Air21 'optimistic' it can cut deal with Jaworski

Air21 is optimistic that it can cut a deal for the comeback of Robert Jaworski Sr. as its head coach in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). In a press statement released on Tuesday, Air21 said that team manager Lito Alvarez is meeting with former senator Robert Jaworski on Thursday in a crucial exploratory discussion aimed at making the former Philippine Basketball Association high-profile mentor as head coach of the young Express team, owned by Bert Lina. "We're very excited at the possibility of hiring him to coach the Express for the coming conference. But of course, we would like to hear his thoughts first on whether he would like to be head of our basketball operations, or assume a full-time coaching job," Alvarez said. The Express team manager divulged that the Linas have long been friends with the senator, who has been a constant guest of honor-speaker of the Tour ng Pilipinas, which Philcycling president Bert Lina revived years ago to provide Filipino cyclists a venue to showcase their skills, while reaping some financial rewards in return. Alvarez revealed that with regards to their current coach Bo Perasol, there would be no problem. "He (Perasol) will slide down to assistant coach once the former senator agrees. As a matter of fact, Bo is very excited to be working for someone as successful as Senator Jaworski. Marami raw siyang matutunan. And besides, empleyado naman talaga ng Airfreight 2100 si Bo kaya walang problema," Alvarez said. Jaworski's magic touch, according to Alvarez, might be what the a young and exciting team such as the Express need. "Senator Jaworski has been successful in every endeavor where he dipped his hand into. First as a player, then as a coachm and more recently, as a senator of the Republic. Just the thought of him coaching this team gives me the goosebumps," said Alvarez. The Express team manager, however, clarified that he would not put undue pressure on Jaworski to transform the Express team overnight. "Even his former Ginebra team didn't become a champion team in such a short time. But what's important is the system that he will infuse into the our squad and the tremendous amount of learning that the players will derive. Those are unquantifiable, and only someone like Senator Jaworski can bring into the Express," said Alvarez. If Jaworski hooks up with the Air21 Express team, he brings with him a resume that is very hard to ignore. Here is the PBA web site's description of Jaworski: "Nowhere in this part of globe has a man been adored the way Robert Salazar Jaworski has. Although loved and hated in an equal mix, those whose loyalty was firmly rooted in the Big J never wavered in their support, even when time and age had eroded what had been one of the most dynamic skills in the game. Ruggedness was his calling card and his volcanic temper was his signature. "But when it came to dealing with the masses and dwelling among his minions, nobody exuded more charisma than Jaworski did. Oftentimes in his prime, his public appeal overshadowed his talent. But he definitely could play. Amidst all those jutted elbows and stuck-out legs was the talent to shoot the ball and pass it with enough savvy to stupendify an entire audience. His popularity later translated into a Senate seat." - GMANews.TV