Not trading Arwind -- Alvarez

By: Rey Joble
People's Journal
October 13, 2007

Arwind Santos isn’t going anywhere.

This, Air21 president and team manager Lito Alvarez told People’s Tonight in a telephone interview yesterday to end speculations that the 6-4 forward is being used as trade bait for a marquee player in Talk N Text.

“That’s not true,” said Alvarez, referring to reports that the former Far Eastern University Tamaraw is heading to his new team amidst the controversy he is facing right now. “We are supporting Arwind as much as we can regarding his problem, but I think this thing can be settled.”

With his morality questioned after bigamy charges were filed against him, rumors swirled around Air21 camp that the former PBL and UAAP Most Valuable Player is heading to another team.

Alvarez, however, responded that the difference between Santos and former commissioner Noli Eala is that the latter’s case had the Supreme Court ruling that led to his ouster because of immorality issues.

“There’s no reason for us to trade him because he will be a big asset to this club,” said Alvarez. “Right now, the players are in high spirits.”

As to the negotiations with cage legend Sonny Jaworski, Alvarez said he did not know when the Big J would return and take over as mentor of the team
“But we're in constant communication. In fact, siya pa nga tumawag sa akin before he went to Las Vegas to attend business matters,” said Alvarez

Coach Bo Perasol, according to Alvarez, is ready to slide down to assistant coach when Jaworski formally accepts the Air21 offer.

“Coach Bo said he’s honored to be Jaworski’s deputy," said Alvarez. He’s looking forward to the learning that he can derive from the experience. After all, there is only one Living Legend of Philippine basketball.”

Alvarez is excited over Air21’s young collegiate stars -- the Ateneo duo of JC Intal and Doug Kramer, along with Marvin Cruz, who is considered a steal in the second round. The three further add youth and athleticism to a young and running Express squad that includes Wynne Arboleda, KG Canaleta, Aris Dimaunahan and Homer Se. The Express team is also upbeat on the return of Ranidel de Ocampo after his stint with the RP men’s basketball team, and hopefully of Gary David from the injured list.

The Express will be trying to extend their dominance of San Miguel Beer, now known as the Magnolia Beverage Masters, when the 2007-2008 PBA season starts at the Araneta Coliseum tomorrow.

The Express team beat the Beverage Masters in all the three times that they met last conference, including an 88-78 victory the first time they clashed -- a record which Alvarez is hoping the Bert Lina franchise can continue.

“We hope our new team is up to the task,” said Alvarez.

The Express have gotten faster, younger, and hopefully better with the acquisition of Intal, Kramer and Cruz.

Slowly but surely, Air21’s young guns are feeling their way into the Express’ run-and-gun system, as proven during the Express’ stint in the 2007 Grand Waldo-Asian Basketball Association Basketball Championship in Dongguan City, Shenzhen, China.

In Air21’s game against Win Ling of Hong Kong for instance, Intal sizzled in his breakout performance as a pro, scoring 17 points to lead the Express to a 93-84 victory and third place overall in a field that included Samsung-Korea, the eventual champion, and FIBA Asian champion Iran .