My Blog

Name: Arwind Santos

Nick Name: Arwin

Monicker: The whirlwind, the human eraser

Birthday: July 19, 1981

Height: 6′4″

Weight: 170lbs

Position: Small Forward/ Power Forward

Jersey No: 29

Year drafted: Selected second overall behind top pick Kelly Williams by Air21 in the 2006 Rookie Draft.

Years Pro: 2

College: Far Eastern University

Hobbies: Basketball and reading

Hometown: Angeles City, Pampanga

Player’s note:
When Sta. Lucia Realty made Kelly Williams its top pick, Air21, as
expected, had turned Arwind Santos as the league’s 2006 second pick
overall because of his superb performance in the UAAP and PBL. Santos,
though lost the Rookie of the year honor last year to Williams, is
continuing his pursuit of greatness to lead his team to first-ever
championship this season.

Last season, Santos was second among rookies in point production, averaging closely 15 points per game.

Santos,
at 6-foot-4, has blessed with long arm with high-leaping ability and
soft perimeter touch which he can also adjust beyond the arc.

He
played for Magnolia in the PBL and averaged 13.3 points, 10.2 rebounds
and 2.2 blocks in the last Unity Cup. His entry into the Express’ fold
last year had made Air21’s frontline deeper and more athletic.

Achievements:
Santos is a member of 32nd PBA Second Team and All-Defensive Team, a
two-time UAAP MVP (2004 and 2005), UAAP 2005 Finals MVP and PBL Unity
Cup MVP and mythical team member.

Career-high:
Arwind Santos had a career-high 25 points on a 3-of-3 shooting from
beyond the arc, 5-of-5 from the two-point zone and 6-of-6 from the
stripe last year during a 101-105 loss by Air21 to Red Bull last May
21, 2007.

Santos scored 23 points to lead the Express to a
103-99 win over San Miguel Beer last June 6, 2007 to clinch their
first-ever quarterfinals slot.

More about the player:
He ranked first among rookies in scoring during the Philippine Cup and
almost led the Express to a quarterfinals appearance only to fall to
the Sta. Lucia Realtors in a knockout match. Santos was one of the
leading contenders for the Rookie of the Year honors last season, but
Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams captured the honor via 2951-677 total votes
from the PBA, Stats, Players and Media.

Statistics: Santos averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.0 block in 18 games played last Fiesta Conference.

Name: Christopher Baluyot

Nick Name: Chris

Monicker:

Birthday: April 30, 1981

Height: 6’3

Weight: 174lbs

Position: Guard/ Forward

Jersey No: 22

Year drafted: Signed as a rookie free agent in 2007 by Air21

Years Pro: Rookie

College: San Sebastian College

Hobbies: Basketball

Hometown: Bulacan

Player’s note:
Although he was not selected by any team in the recent rookie draft,
Chris Baluyot’s dream of making it to the big league has been finally
granted when Air21 head coach Bo Perasol signed him up for at least a
conference. According to scouts, Baluyot is an effective defensive
stopper who can limit scorer during his amateur days in the NCAA and
PBL under Toyota Otis. Baluyot can also step up offensively where he
can pull-off a jumper or finish it with a lay-up.

Career-high: had 17 points and grabbed eight boards in San Sebastian’s 88-74 win over College of Saint Benilde on July 12, 2004.

More about the player:
Chris wants to prove everybody that he can play in the PBA. And so
after Air21 signed him up, he said to himself that he will do
everything to improve his basketball skills to keep up his playing
career.

Statistics: N/A

Name: Douglas Kramer

Nick Name: Doug

Monicker: N/A

Birthday: July 10, 1983

Height: 6’5″

Weight: N/A

Position: Power forward/ Small Forward

Jersey No: 18

Year drafted:
Selected fifth pick overall by the Air21 Express in the 2007 rookie
draft along with fourth pick JC Intal and ninth pick Yousif Aljamal.

Years Pro: Rookie

College: Ateneo De Manila University

Hobbies: Basketball, Modeling

Hometown: Baguio City

Player’s note:
Loves to play defense, get the board, bang and hit some put backs
during his amateur days in Ateneo and Cebuana Lhuiller in PBL.

Kramer’s style of play is fitted to Perasol’s system due to his hustling rebounding and quick moves inside the paint.

He is considered back-up to big men Homer Se and Ranidel De Ocampo.

Achievements: 2006 UAAP mythical team member

Career-high:
Set a career-high 19 rebounds along with three blocks and 16 points in
Ateneo’s 98-88 win over University of the Philippines last August 20,
2006.

More about the player:
Kramer scored
on a game-winning buzzer-beating stab to power Ateneo to a 73-72 win
over University of Santo Tomas in Game 1 of the 69th UAAP men’s
basketball Finals last year at the Araneta Coliseum.

Statistics: Averaging 13.1 points per game and 9.7 rebounds in 16 games in the 2006 UAAP season.

Name: Ervin Sotto

Nick Name: Ervin

Monicker:

Birthday: July 30, 1981

Height: 6’7″

Weight: 215ibs

Position: Center/ Power Forward

Jersey No: 13

Year drafted:
Drafted by Purefoods in the first round of 2004 rookie draft a seventh.
He was shipped by Purefoods to the defunct Shell Turbo Chargers for
center/forward Mike Hrabak in the middle of 2004 season.
When the
Turbo Chargers disbanded, Sotto, Kelani Ferreria and Billy Mamaril were
acquired by Ginebra in 2005. Sotto was traded along with Aries
Dimaunahan to Air21 in August of 2006 in a three-way deal involving
Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola signed him last conference and was reacquired
by Air21 for the start of 33rd season after Mark Telan was shipped to
the Tigers.

Years Pro: 4

College: Saint Francis De Assisi College

Hobbies: Basketball

Hometown: Las Piñas City

Player’s note:
Ervin Sotto hasn’t bloomed yet in the PBA, but this 6-foot-7 behemoth will find his way soon here in the big league.

Blessed
with soft touch in the perimeter and also in the three-point zone,
Sotto is ready to show the PBA anew in what he can do to help his team.

With his towering height and heft, Sotto is a big help to Air21’s frontline.

Achievements: A PBL mythical team member in 2004 and voted Most Improved Player in 2002 PBL wars.

Career-high:
Set a career-high 15 points along with five rebounds and one assist and
a block in 23 minutes of play to lead Ginebra to a 101-84 win over Sta.
Lucia Realty last May 7, 2006.

Scored 13 points in Air21’s 101-103 loss over Purefoods last October 14, 2006.

More about the player:
Sotto slowly emerged from role player to star player during his amateur days in Saint Francis and PBL.

Known
to his tough skills and rebounding prowess in the shaded lane, Sotto is
blessed also with soft perimeter touch and three-point shooting during
that time.

When he begins his pro career, Sotto returned to
being a role player to Purefoods, Shell and Ginebra due to the presence
of star players Kerby Raymundo, Billy Mamaril and Andy Seigle and Eric
Menk.

He played quality minutes in Air21 behind the shadows of
Yancy De Ocampo and Homer Se before Coca-Cola signed him for one
conference.

With the absence of Yancy De Ocampo and Mark Telan
due to off-season deals, Sotto is ready to prove his worth to Air21
again as its reliable big man.

Statistics: N/A

Name: Gary David

Nick Name: Gary

Monicker: the King, Mr. Pure Energy

Birthday: July 13, 1978

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 175lbs

Position: Shooting Guard/ Small Forward

Jersey No: 20

Year drafted:
Selected 10th pick overall by the Coca-Cola Tigers in the 2004 rookie
draft, and then Air21 acquired him from the Tigers via three-team trade
involving San Miguel Beer in 2005.

Years Pro: 4

College: Lyceum of the Philippines

Hobbies: Watching movies, Eat Bulaga, WWE and basketball

Hometown: Bataan

Player’s note:
Considered to be a major steal in 2005 mid season, Gary David has
brought high energy to Air21’s running game that led to the Express’
third place finish in the 31st PBA Fiesta Conference.

David
exploded for 19 points to carry Air21 to its first-ever Final Four
appearance after upsetting the Darvin Ham-led Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals,
117-110, in Game 5 of quarterfinals of 31st Fiesta Conference last
January 20, 2006 in Antipolo City.

If not for an elbow injury,
David was on the verge of having an impressive season last year. But
David still surpassed his point production from 6.9 points during his
rookie year to 9.9 in the 2005-06 season and posted a career-high 28
points in one game.

Despite several injuries in the past, David,
28, has now become Air21’s newest certified scorer after former
franchise player Renren Ritualo was shipped to Talk ‘N Text and
energetic Ronald Tubid to Ginebra last year.

The 2003 PBL MVP,
played under Montana, emerged from being an effective role player to
superstar status after improving his numbers in the last two
conferences, where he also captured various awards.

He averaged
22.1 points in 17 games last Fiesta Conference to send the Express to
quarterfinals against Talk ‘N Text, but his absence due to ACL injury
had cost the Express their semifinal bid.

Achievements: 2003
PBL MVP, 32nd PBA Most Improve Player, member of 32nd First Team, 32nd
All-Defensive Team and 32nd Sportsmanship winner. PBA press corps
comeback player of the year.

Career-high: Gary
David racked up career-high 40 points in Air21’s 136-115 loss against
Ginebra last May 5, 2007 during the 32nd Fiesta Conference in an
out-of-town game at the Holy Angel U in Angeles, Pampanga.

He
first established his first 30-point production last October 19, 2006
when notched in 30 points in Air21’s 127-110 win over Talk ‘N Text in
the Philippine Cup.

Gary David fired 32 points to power the
Express to a 107-103 win over Purefoods and mark their first four wins
last March 24, 2007 at the Araneta Coliseum during the elimination
round of Fiesta Cup.

More about the player:
David was a major discovery of former Lyceum head coach and current
Welcoat mentor Leo Austria, when the 6-foot-2 shooting guard had tried
his luck to join the Pirates’ roster.

Without any scouting
background to prove his skills, David proved Austria that he could play
ball. And without doubt, the highly-respected mentor had put David to
the Lyceum’s 12-man line up that competed in the NCRAA.

David’s
consistent 30-point output in the NCRAA had lifted Lyceum to
championship round twice in 2000 and 2001, but many-time champion Saint
Francis won the title that year due to the presence of the De Ocampo
brothers, Yancy and Ranidel and Ervin Sotto.

Statistics: David’s last 32nd Fiesta Cup averages in 17 games played.
Points per game: 22.1, Steals per game: 0.8, Assists per game: 1.8, and Rebounds per game: 3.1 and 0.1 blocks.

Name: Christian George Chia

Nick Name: Gec

Monicker: N/A

Birthday:

Height: 6’1″

Weight: N/A

Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward

Jersey No 8

Year drafted: Selected by Coca-Cola in the third round

Years Pro:

College: Ateneo De Manila University

Hobbies:

Hometown: 

Player’s note:
When Ginebra released Chia in the off-season, Air21 immediately signed
him for one-conference to strengthen the squad’s backcourt.

Chia proves to be a good defensive stopper, has a soft perimeter touch and even shoots beyond the arc.

Chia, who played for Coca-Cola and Ginebra, is also an open court player who loves to finish fast break plays.

Achievements:

Career-high:

More about the player: Blessed with aggression and effective foot work.

Statistics: Chia averaged 6.8 points per game and 2.1 rebounds in 13 games played last season in Ginebra.

Name: Homer Se

Nick Name: Mher

Monicker: Big boy Homer

Birthday: May 5, 1977

Height: 6′6″

Weight: 215ibs

Position: Center/ Power Forward

Jersey No: 16

Year drafted: Selected fifth overall by Red Bull in the 2001 PBA rookie Draft. He was traded to Air21 for 1995 MVP Vergel Meneses in 2004.

Years Pro: 6

College: San Sebastian College

Hobbies: Basketball Hometown: Albay, Bicol

Player’s note:
Tough, physical, aggressiveness and never backs down to the
challenge.These qualities are what Homer Se has since he entered in the
PBA in 2001.

The 6-6 stalwart from San Sebastian College failed
to continue the Stags’ reign in the NCAA after his team lost to the
Letran Knights, but he used it as a driving point that life doesn’t end
when you’re losing.

Homer appeared to be on the losing end anew
when the MBA closed shop but he found light at the and of the tunnel
when he was picked up by Red Bull and won two championships with the
Barakos. The son of a farmer has become a star and Se doesn’t want to
waste this golden opportunity.

Achievements: N/A

Career-high: N/A

More about the Player:
A strong athlete who always refuses to give up. Despite a certain
findings last year about an unconfirmed ACL injury, Se proved everybody
that the injury report was not true.

Actually, Se is an
energetic player who loves to bang as he jockeys for position, an open
court player who loves to run and dunk the ball.  

Statistics: N/A

Name: John Christopher Intal

Nick Name: JC

Monicker: Mr. Go-to-guy, the rocket

Birthday: November 18, 1983

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 184lbs

Position: Guard/ Forward

Jersey No: 7

Year drafted: Picked by Air21 fourth overall in the 2007 rookie draft along with Doug Kramer, Marvin Cruz, Yousif Aljamal and Rolly Masbang.

Years Pro: Rookie

College: Ateneo De Manila University

Hobbies: Basketball

Hometown: Quezon City

Player’s note:
Known to his fearlessness, JC Intal is not afraid to drive against
hefty taller defenders and expect him to challenge any shots. Head
Coach Bo Perasol said JC is Air21’s total package when the team decided
to get him in the rookie draft after Welcoat, San Miguel Beer and Sta.
Lucia had picked their respective choices. Rookie Intal is a go-to-guy
type of player who can take charge in any given situation. He usually
does it every time the team needs him.

Achievements:
PBL Slam dunk Champion (2003), UAAP Most Improved Player (2004),UAAP
Mythical First Team: 2006, member of 2002 UAAP champion Ateneo and
member of grand slam PBL champion Harbour Centre.

He represented the country in Men’s Southeast Asian Basketball Championship (SEABA) in Thailand.

Career-high: Intal scored a career-high 29 points in Ateneo’s 75-78 loss against University of the East last September 9, 2006.

Shot
8-of-10 from the field for 21 points to lead Ateneo in winning Game one
of the 2006 UAAP Finals against UST, 73-72, last September 24, 2006.

He
made 15 points to give Harbour Centre a PBL grand slam title after
scoring a 90-75 win over Cebuana Lhuiller last June 15, 2007 in Game 3
of the PBL Finals.

More about the player:
He led Ateneo to the UAAP Finals in 2006 and a main part of the PBL
grand slam puzzle of Harbour Centre. His fast-paced game and
aggressiveness are fitted to the Express’ system.

Statistics: N/A

Name: Rommel Niño KG Canaleta

Nick Name: KG

Monicker: the sultan of slam, the Da Vinci of dunk

Birthday: February 12, 1982

Height: 6’6″

Weight: 190lbs

Position: Small Forward

Second position: Shooting Guard

Jersey No: 9

Year drafted: picked sixth in first round by Air21 in 2005

Years Pro: 3

College: University of the East

Hobbies: Playing basketball and watching DVDs

Hometown: Tarlac

Player’s note:
When the Air21 Express picked three rookies in 2005, Canaleta was the
last player selected after top pick Jay Washington and Marc Cardona,
who were both traded immediately to Talk ‘N Text after the draft trade.

But
it seems to be Air21’s good decision as Canaleta came up to the
challenges not only the team’s show time maker but an effective guy for
the Express’ potent running game.

Canaleta took Air21’s
go-to-guy role in the last two seasons after franchise player and main
gunner Renren Ritualo was shipped to Talk ‘N Text last year.

He scored 30 points above thrice last season, showing that he was the face of the new Air21 Express running game.

Aside
from his rim-rattling dunks, Canaleta, known as a three-time PBA
slam-dunk king, can also shoot beyond the arc, penetrates the lane and
plays good defense especially in crunch time.

Achievements: three-time
slam dunk champion in UAAP-NCAA Bantay Bata, undefeated slam dunk king
in PBA All-Star since 2005, one-time PBL slam dunk champion in
2003-2004.

Career-high: Canaleta matched his
career-high 32 points in a 112-121 loss against Magnolia during the
33rd PBA season opener at the Araneta Coliseum.

He first
established his career-high 32 points last June 2, 2006 to beat Talk ‘N
Text, 111-106, and face forge a do-or-die game against Ginebra for the
last quarterfinals seat.

More about the player:
He made a serious run for the Rookie of the Year honors in 2005-06 with
an impressive Philippine Cup campaign, where he averaged 16.2 points
per game which was No. 1 among rookies and seventh in the tournament
among locals.

But a so-so performance in the Fiesta Conference
and two finals stints of Red Bull made Larry Fonacier a no-brainer for
the award.

Canaleta had 15 points last February 9, 2006 to lead the Express to third place finish after beating Ginebra, 108-98.

Statistics: Last 32nd Fiesta Cup averages in 18 games played:
Points per game: 12.1, Rebounds per game: 5.9, Assists per game: 0.9. Steals per game: 0.4, Blocks per game: 0.8

Name: Marvin Cruz

Nick Name: Marv

Monicker: N/A

Birthday: December 31, 1985

Height: 5’9″

Weight: N/A

Position: Point Guard

Jersey No: 12

Year drafted:
Drafted 12th overall in the 2007 PBA rookie draft after Air21 picked JC
Intal, Doug Kramer and Yousif Aljamal in the first round.

Years Pro: Rookie

College: University of the Philippines

Hobbies: Basketball

Hometown: Manila

Player’s note:
Call him Mr. spitfire or spark plug.

This
5-foot-9 former UP Fighting Maroons steady playmaker has been
considered the league’s newest generation of point guards after the era
of Johnny Abarrientos, Hector Calma, Dindo Pumaren, Ronnie Magsanoc and
Gerry Esplana, among others.

Proving everybody that height
doesn’t matter, Cruz quickly appears to be Air21’s surprising package
after converting four steals to fast break points in his first two
games against Magnolia and Alaska.

He served to be Granny Goose and Toyota Otis floor leader during his PBL days.

Achievements: Cruz played as starting point guard for SEABA gold winner RP-Harbour Team last April.

He
was named Best Assist man for the tournament and made the Mythical
Five, then he also made the all-tournament team in the recent PBL
Silver Cup while playing for Toyota Balintawak.

Cruz also led UP
Integrated School to its first-ever UAAP juniors title in 2002, when he
was also named Finals Most Valuable Player. A mythical five member in
69th UAAP.

Career-high: Scored a career-high 29
points on 7-of-14 shooting in the field and converting 9-of-12 free
throws during University of the Philippines’ 89-98 loss to Ateneo last
July 16, 2006.

Fired 18 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished
out four assists to help State U upset University of the East, 90-85,
last September 3, 2006.

More about the player:
Loves to run the floor, penetrates the land of the giants, and a
certified effective backcourt general during his UAAP days in UP.

Statistics: He led the Maroons with 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game in the 69th UAAP.