LAST year’s Philippine Cup final wildcard round was a disaster for the Air21 Express.

They don’t want it to happen again whatever it takes.

So on Sunday (January 4, 2009), the Express are ready to unleash their massive firepower particularly on the wings against archrival San Miguel Beermen in the last day of wildcard round of PBA-KFC Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Air21 bowed out last year to Coca-Cola, 109-102, after beating Ginebra in the first round of wildcard play last year, 119-110.

“We already experienced the feelings to be eliminated,” said Air21 mentor Bo Perasol. “And we don’t want it to happen again. We must do something against the San Miguel Beermen, but with tough defense I’m sure we can beat them.”

The Express suffered a tremendous losses in the elimination round against the Beermen (130-129 double overtime win and 98-78), but Perasol stays positive that his team could get back and beat them in this vert important game.

“I’m sure we learned something important from those two losses against SMB,” he said after Air21’s regular practice last Friday. “This is a very important game for us and I’m very confident my players will play well physically and mentally.”

The game starts at 6:00pm and the winner moves forward in the best-of-three quarterfinals series against the Ginebra Gin Kings.

“My players are always ready but the question is can we stand up in 48 minutes against them?,” asked by Perasol. “We reviewed our two losses against SMB and compared it how we won against Purefoods, knowing these two ball clubs are just the same.”

The newly organized Air21 Express eliminated the Purefoods Giants, San Miguel Beer’s other sister team, 94-82, while the San Miguel Beermen routed the Coca-Cola Tigers, 99-89, in the first wildcard round to dispute the last quarterfinals slot.

“Although it is very tough, I do believed the game will turn different if we play our A-game against SMB. Just what we did to Purefoods,” said Perasol, who will lean on new recruit Cyrus Baguio and Celino Cruz, both came in Red Bull in a recent trade.

Baguio debuted with only six points, while Cruz did not play as he attended the wake of his mother-in-law in Cebu City. Gary David led the Express with 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the field, while Wynne Arboleda had 17 points.

Arwind Santos, Nino KG Canaleta, Don Allado, Egay Billiones, Marvin Cruz, JR Quinahan, Doug Kramer, Adonis Sta. Maria and JC Intal are also there for the Express, who finished the elimination round at 8-10.

“San Miguel Beer is ahead against us in terms of height but our wingmen advantage will provide us the lift,” said Perasol, referring to Santos, Canaleta, David, Baguio and Intal.

David leads the Express in scoring at 18.5 points per game in the elimination, while Santos stays second with 15.3 points and 7.8 rebounds, Baguio at 13.6 points and Arboleda averaged 10.2 points, 4.3 assists per game.

The San Miguel Beermer dropped to wildcard round after losing their last three games for a 9-9 card.

They will bank on Anthony ‘Jay’ Washington (14.2 points and 10.4 rebounds average), Dondon Hontiveros (14 points), Lordy Tugade (13.5 points), Dorian Pena (11.3 points), rookie Bonbon Custodio and returning Danny Seigle.

They also got Mick Pennisi, Kenneth Bono, Jonas Villanueva and Jean Marc Pingris.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Paintmasters and the reigning champion Sta. Lucia Realtors meet in the other best-of-three quarterfinals, while the Alaska Aces and Talk ‘N Text Texters had both qualified in the semifinals outright.