Alvarez said he is wishing Sotto all the best in all future endeavors in his career especially with new team, the Alaska Aces.

“I’m very happy that Ervin Sotto has signed a great contract with the Aces,” said Alvarez. ” We really wanted to keep him but Alaska’s offer was really good. I’m also hoping his career with Alaska will improve.”

According to reports, Alaska offered Sotto a one-year contract amounting P100 thousand a month and he is set to sign the contract early next week. The Express management did not match the offer.

Sotto, who will play back up center to 6-foot-8 starter Sonny Thoss, had an average of almost 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game last season for the Express.

Santos, who ended first runner up behind 2008 MVP Kelly Williams of Philippine Cup Sta. Lucia,  will get his award at the 2008 PBA Press Corps Annual Awards tomorrow night (7:30pm) at the Bayview Park Hotel in Roxas Blvd, Manila.

Santos emerged as this year’s press corps defensive player of the year after tallying in a total of 34.2 Sps this season.

His Fiesta Conference average was 13.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, while he finished with an average of 20.0 points per game, 11.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in the Philippine Cup.

Other awardees are Purefoods’ Peter June Simon as Mr. Quality Minutes and Red Bull’s Mike Hrabak as Comeback Player of the Year. Jess Ferrer has been chosen as Referee of the Year.

Rookie of the Year winner Ryan Reyes of Sta. Lucia leads the season’s All-Rookie Team which also includes Rain or Shine’s Joe Devance, now with Alaska in a recent trade, Coca-Cola’s Ronjay Buenafe, Purefoods’ Chico Lanete and Air21’s Doug Kramer.

They will be awarded elegant trophies by Zamora & Sons in the awards rites to be highlighted by the crowning of the Coach of the Year and the Executive of the Year.

Another highlight of this year’s PBAPC Awards is the special tribute to coach Tommy Manotoc marking the 30th anniversary of his 1978 Open championship with U-Tex that broke the Crispa-Toyota stranglehold and the silver anniversary of his grand slam feat with Crispa in 1983.

Alaska Milk team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, awarded the Philippines’ Ernst & Young 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year, is the guest of honor and speaker. Past and present league officials are also expected to grace the occasion.

Simon and Hrabak were the unanimous choice as Mr. Quality Minutes and Comeback Player of the Year while Santos beat Air21 teammate Wynne Arboleda for the Best Defensive plum.

Without much debate, Simon was named Mr. Quality Minutes, an award given to those players who had extraordinary minutes despite limited playing time.

Though playing off-the-bench role most of the season, the University of Mindanao product averaged 13.4 points and 2.5 rebounds a game, a career-best. He is the third leading scorer on the Purefoods ball club, behind James Yap and Kerby Raymundo.

Hrabak was also an easy choice for the Comeback Player of the Year, regaining his old ways in his transfer to Red Bull. 

Last Sunday’s 2008 PBA Rookie Draft everything went as plan after the Express selected the former University of the East Red Warriors at sixth and they picked La Salle hotshot Cholo Villanueva at 13th in second round.

“We have another good young wing player,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol. “Choosing Mark has given us lots of options in our 2-3-4 spots and I’m sure he can gives us flexibility in those positions.”

The Air21 Express selected Villanueva because of his good leadership skills. “This guy (Villanueva) can really motivate his teammates due to his work ethics and at the same time through his leadership skills.”

Mark Borboran, known as fast break and set up finisher, averaged almost 20 points and eight boards after playing two years for University of the East. He finished 17. 1 points average for Hapee Toothpaste in the last PBL’s unity cup last May.

Cholo Villanueva, who led La Salle to UAAP championship last year, had an average of almost 16 points last year. He played for the Toyota Otis Sparks last conference and registered an 8.8 points average.

After the draft, coach Bo Perasol and assistant Leo Isaac are planning to invite certain undrafted rookies to attend the Express first day scrimmage at Xavier Gym.

“I’ll get the list of rookie free agents and I think we can tap some talents there especially a big man who can run the floor,” said Perasol. “The remaining 26 undrafted rookies remain a mystery for everybody who knows?”

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters, as expected, made Gabe Norwood, a former George Mason U star, their top overall pickafter selecting him first in the draft. Talk ‘N Text selected Jared Dillinger, Jason Castro and Rob Reyes their second, third and fourth pick, respectively.  

Talk ‘N Text got the third pick from San Miguel Beer in exchange of Anthony Jay Washington.

Alaska picked Solomon Mercado at fifth, while Purefoods made Beau Belga its seventh pick and Bonbon Custodio, Larry Rodriguez and Kelvin Gregorio were selected by Red Bull, San Miguel Beer and Sta. Lucia Realty in the last eighth, ninth and 10th of first round, respectively.

The applicants selected in the second round were Pong Escobal (Talk ‘N Text No. 11); Tyrone Tang (Rain or Shine No. 12); Cholo Villanueva (Air21 Express No. 13); Chito Jaime (Sta. Lucia No. 14); Kelvin Dela Peña (Alaska No. 15); Jonathan Fernandez (Purefoods No. 16); Jeff Chan (Red Bull No. 17); Mark Cuevas (Red Bull No. 18); Chris Cabatu (Sta. Lucia No. 20).

Perasol, who steered the Express to first finals appearnace last Fiesta Conference, said they will go for the best available talent left which can play at post and probably a versatile talented quick off-guard or point guard.

“Although there are no popular centers or forwards available, I’m optimistic that we can get one center and tap the best available talent left after Welcoat and Talk ‘N Text select Gabe Norwood and Jared Dillinger in the process,” said Perasol.

Last year, the Express made Ateneo Manila Blue Eagles JC Intal and Douglas Kramer their fourth and fifth pick, respectively, and then chose San Beda’s Yousif Aljamal at ninth, State U’s Marvin Cruz and Rolly Masbang were picked in second round.

Aljamal was shipped to Talk ‘N Text for its future first round pick, while Masbang was assigned to Burger King in the PBL.

For Perasol, players like PBL five-time MVP Jason Castro, Jeff Chan, Bonbon Custodio, Mark Borboran, Beau Belga, Lei Mar Navarro, Kelvin Dela Pena, Rob Reyes, and John Paul Escobal are the possible candidates to be picked at third, fourth and fifth.

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters (former Welcoat) have expressed their interest to make 6-foot-5 Gabe Norwood this year’s rookie draft top pick, while Jared Dillinger is expected to be tapped by the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals as their second pick.

The Express are hoping to improve their center spot but adding versatility and talent on their roster are definitely the other idea.         

DRAFTING ORDER (1st Round)
  1. Rain or Shine 
  2. Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals  
  3. San Miguel Beermen (acquired from Air21 – Gabby Espinas trade, which was acquired by Air21 from Coca-Cola – Telan Trade, which was likewise acquired by the latter from Ginebra – 3-way trade re Reavis, Mamaril and Hatfield) 
  4. Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals (acquired from Coca-Cola – Taulava trade) 
  5. Alaska Aces 
  6. Air21 Express 
  7. Purefoods TJ Giants 
  8. San Miguel Beermen 
  9. Red Bull Barakos 
10. Sta. Lucia Realtors  
 
DRAFTING ORDER (2nd Round)
  1. Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals  
  2. Rain or Shine 
  3. Air21 Express (from Ginebra – Tubid trade) 
  4. Sta. Lucia Realtors (from Coca-Cola – Denok Miranda trade) 
  5. Alaska Aces 
  6. Purefoods TJ Giants (from Air21 – Artadi trade)  
  7. Red Bull Barakos (from Purefoods – Romel Adducul trade) 
  8. Red Bull Barakos (from Magnolia – Noble, Kong – Adducul trade) 
  9. Red Bull Barako 
10. Sta. Lucia Realtors  
 
LIST OF APPLICANTS

1. ABAD, Juan Luis
2. BELGA, Beau  
3. BONUS, Lawrence
4. BORBORAN, Mark                    
5. CABAHUG, Patrick
6. CABATU, Christian               
7. CASTRO, Jason          
8. CATIGAN, Andrew
9. CHAN, Jeffrey
10. COCHING, Jan Anthony
11. CONCHA, Dennis
12. CRUZ, Nathaniel
13. CUEVAS, Mark Anthony
14. CUNANAN, Rene
15. CUSTODIO, Bonifacio
16. DALAFU, Kevin
17. DAVID, Nestor
18. DELA PENA, Kelvin
19. DILLINGER, Jared
20. DIZON, Michael                  
21. ESCOBAL, John Paul
22. ESPIRITU, Anthony
23. FERNANDEZ, Jonathan
24. GONZALES, Michael
25. GREGORIO, Kelvin
26. JAIME, Chito
27. JUNIO, Ismael
28. KIRAM, Nizar
29. MELOCOTON, Ferdie
30. MERCADO, Solomon 
31. NAILON, Franklyn 
32. NATIVIDAD, Ricky 
33. NAVARRO, Lei Mar Navarro
34. NORWOOD, Gabe
35. RAYMUNDO, Angelus
36. REGALADO, Ryan
37. REYES, Rob
38. REYES, Unik
39. RODRIGUEZ, Larry
40. SAGUINDEL, Earn
41. SALDUA, Eder John
42. TANG, Tyrone
43. VILLANUEVA, Pocholo
44. YEE, Mark
45. YU, Eian

Coach Bo Perasol of Air21 told various media people that the management is planning to re-sign all its players who have expiring contracts like Nino KG Canaleta, Homer Se, Gabby Espinas, Ervin Sotto and Egay Billiones to stay intact for the coming Philippine Cup.

The Express, who bowed to Ginebra (4-3) in their best-of-seven finals series in Game 7 at the Big Dome, are planning to improve their center position due to the absence of 6-foot-9 import Steve Thomas who made a promise to return next year as the team’s import again.

“The management told me to keep the team’s core, so I’m very happy with that decision,” said coach Perasol. “It will be easy for me to coach because the players already know my systems. Aside from that, there’s no other way for us next conference but to go up.”

Air21 also owns the two picks in the first round — sixth and eighth — of this month’s Rookie Annual draft next week at the Market! Market! Market! in Taguig City. But since there would be no big man or great talent available when the Express turn to pick, Perasol said they might to use their rights as ‘trade bait.’

“We really need to improve our inside presence,” said Perasol. “If we can’t get the type of player in the draft, we’ll use the pick as trade bait. We really need to see the final list of the applicants first.”

The successful finals stint of the Air21 Express, who defeated the Magnolia Beverage Masters in the semifinals (4-2), are  made possible by import Steve Thomas, Arwind Santos, Wynne Arboleda, Gary David, Ranidel De Ocampo, Nino KG Canaleta and Homer Se, among others.

The Air21 Express stormed a mighty comeback in the fourth quarter but came up short in the pivotal minutes to lose the 2008 33rd PBA Smart Fiesta Cup title against the Ginebra Gin Kings in an 84-97 decision Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Down by 63-72 at the start of fourth period, the Express erased the deficit with a 16-11 blast, capped by the baskets of Gary David, Steve Thomas and Arwind Santos, to eventually turned the table around for their favor, 84-83, with 4:22 left.

But a 9-0 run by the Gin Kings under the last minute mark spoiled the Express comeback on the way to their eighth title and Ginebra coach Jong Uichico received his personal eighth crown too.

6-foot-9 hulking import Steve Thomas carried mostly the entire load for the Express by tallying in 24 points on 8-of-13 attempts in the field to go along with 12 rebounds and five assists and two blocks.

“I’ll be back next year,” said Thomas, who was responsible for the Air21 Express’ first finals appearance this season.

“My teammates are all good, so I’m looking forward to play here again and probably meet Ginebra in the finals again (he joked).”

Former Express Ronald Tubid paced Ginebra with 22 points on a perfect 11-of-11 in the free throw line and Eric Menk produced 21 points and 14 rebounds. They were both voted the Co-Finals MVP.

Sophomore Arwind Santos, who was dying to win the championship since the start of the series, made 19 points to go with six rebounds, four steals and two blocks, while spitfire Gary David scored 18 points and Nino KG Canaleta came off the bench with eight.

“My players have matured,” said Bo Perasol, the Express coach. “Still, they were not yet ready to face the impact of what the Ginebra crowd brought to the basketball game. But overall we did pretty well.”

Rebounding turned out to be a huge factor for the Gin Kings, as they out-rebounded the Express, 60-41. They earned more second chance points (22-8) than the Express.

Despite forcing the Gin Kings to 26 turnovers which gained them 27 points, the Express failed to capitalize when they needed most particularly in cruch time that they almost silenced the whole 22, 000 capacity crowd.

But breaks of the game wasn’t meant for the Air21 Express in the remaining time.

Ginebra claimed Game 1 (105-96), Game 4 (90-77), Game 6 (80-75) and Game 7 to wrap their best-of-seven finals series to 4-3. Air21 won Game 2 (124-90), Game 3 (97-87) and Game 5 (76-73).

Air21’s Blog Notes:

…Despite the lost, the whole Air21 Express community with loyal fans and supporters gathered themselves in Libis Gerry’s Grill to celebrate their first runner up achievement….

….….Being a first runner-up is something we should be proud of… After achieving our first third place throphy in 2005 – also in Fiesta Cup tourney, the Air21 Express have improved a lot especially when Arwind Santos arrived in 2006….

……So for the fans who are with us since this ball club joined the PBA in 2002, THANK YOU!!!….

…..Gary David, who returned from a serious knee injury last conference, is also a special mention to Air21’s biggest improvement….

…..I know the other team will not like this but Ginebra’s victory in Game 6, which officiated by referees who made questionable calls in that game were also the main reason why Air21 only finished first runner up behind champion Ginebra…..

….For the team (Air21), they just did all their best or maybe it was not yet their time…

…. Hopefully, next 34th season….We will win our title… God Bless the Air21 Express…   

Individual Scores:

Ginebra 97 - Tubid 22, Menk 21, Alexander 16, Caguioa 13, Valenzuela 10, Artadi 8, Crisano 4, Pacana 3, Mamaril 0, Salvacion 0, Reavis 0.

Air 21 84 - Thomas 24, Santos 19, David 18, Canaleta 8, Billones 6, De Ocampo 5, Cruz 3, Arboleda 1, Kramer 0, Intal 0, Espinas 0, Sotto 0, Se 0.

Quarter Scores: 26-21, 49-46, 72-63, 97-84.

Coach Bo Perasol of finalist Air21 relayed this in a text message last Tuesday, referring to their (Air21 Express) classic battle against the Ginebra Gin Kings in a no-tomorrow game of 33rd PBA Smart Fiesta Conference best-of-seven finals series tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

Game 7 begins tonight at 7:00pm.

“We did everything in practice particularly how to improve in certain things,” said Perasol. “X’s and O’s have nothing to do in tonight’s game. It is all the desire and willingness of our players to capture it (title). We are expecting Ginebra to come up strong but we are ready.”

Ginebra, which won Game 1 (105-96), Game 4 (90-77) and Game 6 (80-75) last Sunday, is expected to rely huge again on 7-foot-1 best import Chris Alexander, locals Junthy Valenzuela, Mark Caguioa, Ronald Tubid, Eric Menk and Paul Artadi, among others.

The Air21 Express, who owned Game 2 (124-90), Game 3 (97-87) and Game 5 (76-73), are going to bank on import Steve Thomas, Arwind Santos, Nino KG Canaleta, Gary David, Ranidel De Ocampo, Homer Se and Wynne Arboleda, among others to take home their first title since joining the PBA in 2002.

“We really need to take charge, every single second is very important now,” said David, who averaged almost 20 points in the semifinals and 14 points in the Finals’ last six games. ”

Tonight’s epic game is expected to draw thousand of fans anew. It could beat the 18, 643 crowd in Game 6 and the one-day P2.5 million ticket sales.

Thomas, on the other hand, who averaged 20 points and 16 rebounds in the conference, said he will do everything to win it tonight. “This is my first time in a championship series, so I really need to work hard to lead this team to the championship.”

The highest achievement for the Express aside from making to their first finals appearance this conference was winning a third place trophy in 2005 Fiesta Conference under import Shawn Daniels.

Barrios ordered Caguioa to pay a P5, 000 fine for committing a flagrant foul penalty 1after hitting Air21 Arwind Santos while driving to the basket, while Valenzuela was slapped with a P1, 000 fine for a second motion on Air21 forward Ranidel De Ocampo.

A review of the game tape which saw Caguioa made contact with Santos, who was airborne and in the act of shooting. Caguioa said he didn’t intend to cause any harm but Barrios said “we cannot but view your action with concern.”

“We cannot overemphasize the danger of fouling an airborne player like that. Fortunately, your act did not result in any dire consequence. Had Mr. Santos taken a bad fall and hurt himself, you could have been assessed a flagrant foul penalty 2,” he also said.

Caguioa and Valenzuela, who both escaped suspension, were summoned before lunch yesterday at the PBA Office.

Valenzuela was banished from the court late in the game after picking up his second Technical Foul on another second motion-this time against Gary David-but the Commissioner found sufficient ground to waive the second offense.

Caguioa and Velenzuela managed just five points on Sunday but the Kings got a splendid performance from Chris Alexander, who scored a game-high 37 points and 24 rebounds, to force a deciding Game 7 match also at the Araneta Coliseum.

Nino Canaleta (flagrant penalty 1) and David (technical foul/second motion) also met with the yesterday with the commissioner, who ruled there is sufficient ground to waive the fines on their infractions. But both players were also given a stern warning.

Coach Bo Perasol, the Express coach, and Team Governor Lito Alvarez refused to comment on the decision of Barrios, saying they have no enough time to talk other things but win their first-ever title on Wednesday.

Game officials particularly the referees, as expected, were also a huge factor in Ginebra’s win in Game 6 that tied the best-of-series – whether they deny it or not.

It was too obvious.

With hulking Steve Thomas picking three first personal fouls in the first period, 7-foot-1 Chris Alexander scored a game-high 37 points and 24 boards as Ginebra posted an 80-75 come-from-behind win over Air21 at the Araneta Coliseum.  

But soft-spoken Air21 coach Bo Perasol said he tells the boys to stay confident.

“That’s the beauty of taking the 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven series. You lose Game Six and you still have a chance to win it in Game Seven. The boys are sad with the loss but we still believe that we can win it,” said Perasol.

“Imagine, we lost Steven Thomas (on fouls) with over five minutes left to play and we’re beaten by only five. That says a lot that we really can compete,” Perasol said.

Although it was hard to prove the bias officiating in Game 6, most calls particularly fouls committed by Thomas and other Air21 players were obviously not a foul for the eyes of the 18, 643 viewers except from thousand Ginebra fans who were there in the big dome.

Thomas, who scored 20 points and grabbed 24 rebounds, left the court with 4:53 to go in the last quarter with the Gin Kings leading, 70-66, after Alexander’s put-back.

Despite the loss, the Express stayed confident they can get their first-ever title on Wednesday also at the Araneta Coliseum.

Forward Ranidel De Ocampo scored 16 points, while Arwind Santos finished with 10 and 11 rebounds and Gary David tallied all 10 points in the second half for the Express.

Air21 started on high note as Thomas and Santos were virtually unstoppable by hitting nine and seven points, respectively, in the early going to help them post a 27-15 spread after the first period.  

But the Gin Kings’ 19-10 spurt in the second quarter sliced down the Express’ edge to only 34-37 at halftime.

Alexander went on the attack mode in the third quarter with Thomas already in foul trouble, and the Kings rode on a 23-5 onslaught to post a 61-55 lead.

They never looked back from there.

The Kings had their first taste of the lead at 56-55 on a semi-hook by Alexander with 55 ticks left in the third period.

Tension ran high early in the contest with two flagrant fouls and a technical infraction called in the first half ending in Air21’s favor at 37-34.

Alex Crisano started it all with a hard foul on Thomas in the opening quarter, but no flagrant foul 1 was slap on Crisano despite the hard foul.

The Express were still in control when Mark Caguioa and Junthy Valenzuela were slapped a flagrant foul and a technical foul on Arwind Santos and Ranidel de Ocampo, respectively.

A little later, Nino KG Canaleta also committed a flagrant foul on former UE teammate Paul Artadi. It was merely a blocking a foul, though.

Air21 scored all of the game’s first 14 points as Ginebra got off to a fumbling start, going 0-of-6 from the field and committing three turnovers in the first five minutes of the contest.

But Ginebra came-up huge in the second half especially when Thomas absorbed his fifth foul at the start of payoff frame.

Meanwhile, Game 6 produced an all-time record ticket sale of P2.5 million.

The finals series of the season-ending tourney between Air21 and Ginebra has been a big hit, grossing an average ticket sale of P1.5 million in the first five games.

Air21’s Blog Notes:

…Every time referee Throngi Aldaba was assign to officiate in the game since the semifinals series, the Air21 Express always came up loser in the end…

…Is he mad at Air21…? I’m hoping he does not…

…Bert Lina, the team owner of the Express, talked to the players on the dug-out after the game, telling all his players not to be disappointed and, instead, play hard on Wednesday to win the crown….

Individual Scores:

Ginebra 80 - Alexander 37, Menk 10, Tubid 9, Pacana 6, Valenzuela 5, Caguioa 5, Artadi 4, Salvacion 2, Crisano 2, Reavis 2.
 
Air 21 75 - Thomas 20, De Ocampo 16, Santos 10, David 10, Canaleta 7, Arboleda 4, Billones 3, Cruz 2, Se 2, Intal 1, Kramer 0.
 
Quarter Scores: 15-27, 34-37, 61-55, 80-75.