GAMES WEDNESDAY
(Araneta Coliseum)
4:50 p.m.—Magnolia vs Red Bull
7:20 p.m.—Air21 vs Barangay Ginebra

AFTER THANKING THE LORD FOR THE blessing, and just after the moment sank in, Air21 coach Bo Perasol made an assessment of the coming Smart Fiesta Cup title series, saying that he’s not afraid of the team on the other end of the floor.

“I like my chances against Ginebra. I am positive that we have a good match-up man-for-man,” Perasol said after steering his Express to a title slot with a series-clinching 99-91 rout of Magnolia Friday night.

“But crowd-for-crowd, it’s very far,” he added. “This is one series I’d like to have behind closed doors.”

Or, perhaps, invite the man who was responsible for creating the Ginebra nation in the first place.

Perasol played it coy when asked about the possibility of former senator Robert Jaworski showing up on the Air21 side of the court to even matters up. The basketball icon, who single-handedly authored Ginebra’s magical hold on the masses, has been rumored for the longest time to be headed for the Express bench.

“Nothing has been mentioned yet [about Jaworski],” Perasol told the Inquirer. “I really have no idea about that.”

“However,” Perasol quickly added, “I am not discounting the possibility of it [Jaworski showing up to support Air21] happening.”

Air21 made a PBA Finals for the first time in its existence and seems to be a good fit to match up with the rampaging Gin Kings starting Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, where Perasol and the Express will likely feel that the whole world has turned on them.

Ginebra, aside from its potent lineup and efficient import in Chris Alexander, also draws its strength from its legion of fans who seem ready to gobble up any opponent the Kings have on any given night.

“I will bet on my team if the series is played behind closed doors,” Perasol said. “But regardless, I’m sure that we will come out with the same intensity.”

Making the championship was a satisfying feeling for Perasol, a company executive whom management plucked out of nowhere to call the shots for the Express vice Bong Ramos in 2005.

“It means a lot to me, because I was also one of those (when he was named coach) who really thought that I couldn’t do it,” he said. “Management gave me the trust the last few years and I also grew as a coach.”

Perasol might even consider wearing some sort of ear muffs when his team takes the floor Wednesday night, for the Big Dome will surely erupt with Ginebra’s die-hard throng also aching for a first championship in three conferences.