“There’s no other way but the championship.”

It was addressed by Mrs. Sylvia Lina to Air21 head coach Yeng Guiao and his players on Monday during the team’s press launch at the Burger King branch at the Glorietta mall in Makati City with two days left before the Express’ first game in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference.

“We have the cream of the crop and we’re very excited to have them in this team,” she said.

Although the wife of Bert Lina, the Air21 Express franchise team owner, is asking for the company’s first ever title since joining the PBA in 2002, Guiao is so optimistic that anything may turn possible this conference including another return trip to the finals of this import-laden tournament or win the crown.

“I won my first title in my second year with Swift. With Red Bull, it was also in my second year when I won the title. Hopefully the trend will continue,” said Guiao, who is now on his second year as Air21 mentor. “I think we have the necessary ingredient to again contend for the championship.”

Guiao said the Express have upgraded their talent from the last conference with their determination and good chemistry is all there.  “We are really looking forward to the tournament.”

The return of Air21’s gunner Renren Ritualo, who was an original pick of the Express in 2002 before he was traded to Talk ‘N Text in 2006, has given Guiao an outside threat which he considers a big factor this conference.

The arrival of Mike Cortez from San Miguel Beer, returning Doug Kramer and Rich Alvarez from Ginebra has also strengthened the team in terms of offensive firepower and defensive strength.      

Besides the four players, mainstays Beau Belga, Egay Billones, Wesley Gonzales, Ronjay Buenafe, Richard Yee, Ram Carlo Sharma, Ramsey Williams, Erick Rodriguez and Wynnie Arboleda, who will appeal to PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios for reinstatement this conference, are all expected to deliver big in this conference.

Arboleda, on the other hand, is all set to appeal his case to the Commissioner’s Office on Thursday. He was suspended for one season last October due to an ugly incident.

Rodriguez, who recently recovered from ACL injury, is also expected to be a big factor defensively this conference.

Guiao also said he is satisfied with what import Keena Young has been displaying so far in practices.

“He’s not flashy but very effective, and shoots with a higher percentage,” said Guiao. “What I’ll be asking from him now is to work on both ends of the court. We don’t need him to score more than 30 points every night. He must be the steady factor for the team.”

Air21’s first game this conference is against San Miguel Beer on Wednesday (March 24, 2010) at the Araneta Coliseum in second game.

The team entered the PBA in 2002 as FedEx Express. After three seasons, it changed its brand name to Air21. In 2009 the team was called Burger King, the name it carried until the recent Philippine Cup.

Air21 chairman Bert Lina and wife Sylvia, and team manager and current PBA board chairman Lito Alvarez were also present in the event.