Jaworski – coach or commish?
By Joaquin Henson
The Philippine Star
Saturday, September 15, 2007
That’s the word from a close Jaworski associate who declined to be identified. The associate said yesterday Jaworski is in the US and will be back next week.
Air21 assistant coach Allan Gregorio said the Express is waiting for Jaworski’s confirmation on whether or not to call the shots for the PBA club this coming season.
At the moment, Air21 continues to practice everyday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Xavier School gym with coach Bo Perasol supervising the workouts. Perasol said recently he will slide down to assistant coach if Jaworski decides to join the team.
Nothing is certain as to who will replace Eala as PBA commissioner. Sonny Barrios was recently named OIC to function as commissioner but it is only on a temporary capacity. Barrios said he is not available to work as permanent commissioner beyond the Philippine Cup conference opening Oct. 14.
It was rumored that the top three candidates to succeed Eala are Jaworski, business executive Lambert Ramos and lawyer Chito Salud. Freddie Webb and Chito Narvasa are also in contention.
Salud’s father Rudy was a former PBA commissioner. Salud, a lawyer, is now working as a consultant with Barrios in the PBA on a pro bono basis. He is the former president of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. and the Natural Resources Development Corp.
Jaworski, 61, has not officially retired from the PBA as a player although his last game was during the 1998 season, his 24th in the league. He led Barangay Ginebra to four championships as a playing coach in 1986, 1988, 1991 and 1997.
Jaworski’s return will be a big boost to the PBA which reached its peak of popularity during the Big J’s halcyon years. His charisma is what Air21 officials hope will inspire the Express to improve on its 22-22 record last year when the Bert Lina franchise finished seventh in the Philippine Cup and sixth in the Fiesta Conference.
Gregorio said the team is on the lookout for big men with Mark Telan gone to Coca-Cola and Mark Andaya to Red Bull. From the rookie draft, the Express got a lift from J. C. Intal, Doug Kramer and Marvin Cruz. Returning from last season’s cast are Arwind Santos, K. G. Canaleta, Wynne Arboleda, Aris Dimaunahan, Homer Se, Gary David and Ranidel de Ocampo.
David was the second leading local scorer, behind James Yap, in the Fiesta Conference until he was sidelined by an ACL injury last May. He is expected back in uniform in the first week of December. For the season, David wound up averaging 20.6 points, third in local scoring behind Mark Caguioa (24.6) and Danny Seigle (22.2).
In the Philippine Cup, Air21 will welcome back de Ocampo who was on loan to the national team during the Fiesta Conference.
Trying out for a spot in the Express roster is rookie draftee R. J. Masbang. Burly center Ryan Bernardo is not practicing with the team but is on call. Guard Jimwell Torion has been released and is now in Cebu.
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