View source for Air21 Express (2012–2014)

{{About|the second Air21 Express team (first known as Shopinas.com Clickers)|the original Air21 Express (and second Barako Bull) team|Barako Bull Energy|PSL women's volleyball team|Shopinas.com Lady Clickers}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox NBA team
| current =
| name = Air21 Express
| logo = Air21 Express.png
| history = '''Shopinas.com Clickers''' (2011–2012)<br>'''Air21 Express''' (2012–2014)
| founded = 2011
| colors = Purple, Orange, White<br>{{color box|#492772}} {{color box|#FF8800}} {{color box|white}}
| company = Airfrieght 2100, Inc.
| owner = [[Alberto Lina]]
<!--| gm = Lito Alvarez-->
| coach = [[Franz Pumaren]]
| ret_nums = '''1''' ([[Vergel Meneses|18]])
| dissolved = 2014
| titles =
| h_title = Light uniform
| h_pattern_b = _air21-2014_l
| h_body =
| h_pattern_s = _air21-2014_l
| h_shorts =
| a_title = Dark uniform
| a_pattern_b = _air21-2014_d
| a_body =
| a_pattern_s =_air21-2014_d
| a_shorts =
}}
The '''Air21 Express''' was a professional [[basketball]] team in the [[Philippine Basketball Association]] (PBA) that debuted in the [[2011–12 PBA season|2011–12 season]]. The team debuted as the '''Shopinas.com Clickers''' during the [[2011–12 PBA Philippine Cup]]. In 2014, the franchise was sold to Manila North Tollways Corporation (a subsidiary of [[Metro Pacific Investments Corporation]]) and was renamed as the [[NLEX Road Warriors]].
== History ==
{{Main|Barako Bull Energy Boosters}}
Energy Food and Drink Inc., owner of the original [[Barako Bull Energy Boosters]] franchise, had informed the PBA board in March 2011 that they intend to fold, citing the plan to shift their business strategy due to its ongoing lawsuit against TC Pharmaceuticals Industries Co. (manufacturer of [[Red Bull]] in Thailand) and the death of board governor [[Tony Chua]] at the height of [[Typhoon Ketsana|Tropical Storm Ondoy (Ketsana)]].
Barako Bull had been on leave since the [[2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup]] and was planning to sell the franchise to [[Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.]], the sponsor of the league's games outside [[Metro Manila]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=668547&keyword=sp_pba |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908031604/http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=668547&keyword=sp_pba |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |title=Barako Bull opts to leave PBA |first=Nelson |last=Beltran |work=[[Philippine Star]] |date=March 22, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 }}</ref> On the PBA board meeting, the board disallowed the sale of the franchise to Phoenix, failing to get at least two-thirds of the ten board members, although they allowed Barako Bull to stay on leave until the [[2011 PBA Governors Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=671187&keyword=sp_pba |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909163707/http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=671187&keyword=sp_pba |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |title=Barako sale to Phoenix nixed |first=Nelson |last=Beltran |work=[[Philippine Star]] |date=March 30, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 }}</ref>
In June 2011, Barako Bull informed the PBA it intended to sell its franchise to the Lina Group of Companies (LGC), owner of the [[Barako Bull Energy|Air21 Express]] franchise, reportedly for 50 million [[Philippine peso|pesos]]. In July 2011, the board approved Barako Bull's sale to Airfreight 2100, while deferring the new franchise's concession that might be given to the team to improve its roster.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=704304&keyword=sp_pba |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907171708/http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=69&articleid=704304&keyword=sp_pba |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |title=Board okays Lina takeover of Barako, TV5 pact |first=Nelson |last=Beltran |work=[[Philippine Star]] |date=July 9, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 }}</ref> Air21's Manny Alvarez mentioned that the second Lina Group franchise will be named "Shopinas.com", named after its new company that focuses into [[e-commerce]], and that the new team's representative would be Shiela Lina, who is then forming the team's coaching staff.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=707436&publicationSubCategoryId=200&keyword=sp_pba |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911091244/http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=707436&publicationSubCategoryId=200&keyword=sp_pba |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |title=Kings to ship Miller to Express for Canaleta |first=Nelson |last=Beltran |work=[[Philippine Star]] |date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 }}</ref>
===Shopinas.com Clickers===
{|class="infobox"
|-
!colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#28b3f4; color:white;"|<big>Shopinas.com Clickers</big>
|-
|align=center colspan=2|[[File:Shopinas.com Clickers logo.png|145px]]
|-
|Colors
|{{color box|#28b3f4}} {{color box|#e11e26}} {{color box|white}}
|-
!colspan=2|Uniforms
|-
|{{Basketball kit|pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite|body=28b3f4|pattern_s=_thinsidesonwhite|shorts=28b3f4|title=Light uniform}}
|{{Basketball kit|pattern_b=_thinwhitesides|body=28b3f4|pattern_s=_thinwhitesides|shorts=28b3f4|title=Dark uniform}}
|}
Former [[De La Salle Green Archers]] coach [[Franz Pumaren]] was named as head coach. Pumaren, who has coached the La Salle men's varsity basketball team to five [[University Athletic Association of the Philippines]] (UAAP) [[UAAP Basketball Championship|basketball titles]], resigned as La Salle coach in 2009 to concentrate on his political career.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/franz-pumaren-to-sign-3-year-deal-with-shopinas-in-pba |title=Franz Pumaren to sign 3-year deal with Shopinas in PBA |first=Reynaldo |last=Belen |work=Interaksyon.com |date=July 22, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830121940/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/franz-pumaren-to-sign-3-year-deal-with-shopinas-in-pba |archive-date=August 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result of the old Barako Bull franchise trading away their best players, the franchise asked PBA commissioner [[Chito Salud]] for concessions in the [[2011 PBA Draft]], pending approval from the PBA board.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/shopinas-asks-pba-for-more-draft-picks |title=Shopinas asks PBA for more draft picks |first=Reynaldo |last=Belen |work=Interaksyon.com |date=July 22, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828134202/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/shopinas-asks-pba-for-more-draft-picks |archive-date=August 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The board eventually approved to give the team the first pick for the second round (11th overall).
The Clickers selected [[Mark Barroca]], [[Magi Sison]] and [[Mark Cagoco]] in the [[2011 PBA Draft]]. Barroca was eventually sent to the [[B-Meg Llamados]] for [[Brian Ilad]] and [[Elmer Espiritu]] in a three-way trade with [[Barako Bull Energy]].
The team finished the Philippine Cup eliminations with a 0–14 record, setting a new [[Philippine Basketball Association records#Team season records|all-time record]] for consecutive losses in a single conference, which was previously held by the 1982 [[Great Taste Coffee Makers|Great Taste Discoverers]] (Reinforced Filipino Conference) and the 1984 Country Fair Hotdogs (2nd All-Filipino Conference).<ref>[http://clickers.shopinas.com/news/0-14/ 0–14] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602000939/http://clickers.shopinas.com/news/0-14/ |date=June 2, 2012 }}, Josiah Israel Albelda</ref><ref>[http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/b-meg-shuts-out-shopinas-campaign-clinches-twice-to-beat B-MEG shuts out Shopinas campaign, clinches twice-to-beat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107231300/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/b-meg-shuts-out-shopinas-campaign-clinches-twice-to-beat |date=January 7, 2012 }}, interaksyon.com, December 8, 2011</ref>
===Air21 Express===
After a disappointing finish in the Philippine Cup, the Lina Group decided to rename the franchise as the Air21 Express, the name that was previously carried by their sister team, [[Barako Bull Energy]].<ref>[http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/244276/sports/basketball/management-wants-air21-brand-back-in-pba?ref=subsection_item Management wants Air21 brand back in PBA], GMA News Online, January 11, 2012</ref>
Before the Commissioner's Cup started, the team traded [[Mark Canlas]], Dennis Daa, and a 2012 first round pick to the Meralco Bolts in exchange for bigmen [[Nelbert Omolon]] and [[Mark Isip]].<ref>[http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/air-21-acquires-omolon-isip-from-meralco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229110555/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/air-21-acquires-omolon-isip-from-meralco |date=February 29, 2012 }}, Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV · Friday, January 27, 2012</ref>
The team had signed SMART-Gilas player [[Marcus Douthit]] as their import for the Commissioner's Cup.<ref>[http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/douthit-joins-air-21-in-commissioners-cup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204211637/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/douthit-joins-air-21-in-commissioners-cup |date=February 4, 2012 }}, Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV · Thursday, February 2, 2012</ref> Despite having Douthit as import, the team failed to pass through the elimination round, only finishing with a 3–6 record.
After years of failed campaigns, Air 21 led by 42-year-old [[Asi Taulava]] qualified for the [[2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup#Bracket|2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals]] and defeated the second-seeded [[San Miguel Beermen]] twice in a row to enter the PBA semifinals for the first time in franchise history. However, they were beaten by the eventual champions [[San Mig Super Coffee Mixers]] in their semifinals series that extended to a Game 5.
===Sale of the franchise to NLEX===
{{main|NLEX Road Warriors}}
In March 2014, the Manila North Tollways Corporation ([[NLEX Road Warriors (PBA D-League)|NLEX Road Warriors]]), together with Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. ([[Blackwater Sports]]) and Columbian Autocar Corporation ([[Mahindra Enforcers|Kia Sorento]]), applied for an expansion franchise in the PBA. Their respective applications were approved by the PBA board of governors on March 7, 2014. While Kia and Blackwater have paid the franchise fee set by the league, MNTC requested for an extension, as they were studying whether to enter the PBA as an expansion team or acquire an existing PBA franchise. This is due to the limited concessions given by the league to the expansion teams, namely the "protect 12" policy for the expansion draft, no direct hires or carry-over players from their [[PBA D-League]] teams, and the 11th to 16th pick in the upcoming rookie draft.
On June 17, 2014, MNTC announced that it was having negotiations with a PBA team to acquire their franchise. Due to the ongoing [[2014 PBA Governors' Cup|Governors' Cup]] playoffs, MNTC did not identify the team they were negotiating with, but stated it will reveal the team's identity once the team was eliminated.<ref>[http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/no-more-expansion-nlex-buying-existing-team-to-join-pba No more expansion: NLEX buying existing team to join PBA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622050419/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/no-more-expansion-nlex-buying-existing-team-to-join-pba |date=June 22, 2014 }}, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, June 17, 2014</ref> Days later, the team was revealed to be Air21 Express.
On June 23, 2014, an agreement was reached between MNTC and the Lina Group of Companies regarding the sale of the Air21 Express PBA franchise to MNTC.<ref>[http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/nlex-reaches-deal-to-acquire-air-21-franchise-awaits-league-approval NLEX reaches deal to acquire Air 21 franchise, awaits league approval] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626013527/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/nlex-reaches-deal-to-acquire-air-21-franchise-awaits-league-approval |date=June 26, 2014 }}, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, June 23, 2014</ref> The sale was approved during the regular monthly meeting of the board of governors, paving the way for the sale of the franchise to MNTC.<ref>[http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/pba-approval-of-air21s-sale-to-nlex-clears-way-for-joseph-yeo-trade-to-ginebra-for-draft-pick PBA approval of Air21's sale to NLEX clears way for Joseph Yeo trade to Ginebra for draft pick], Snow Badua, spin.ph, June 26, 2014</ref>
==Final roster==
{{PBA roster header
| team=Air21 Express
}}<!--Using system used by the PBA: flag = country of birth place. this is the system used to classify filipino foreigners. If we'd go to the principle of they are all Filipinos, let's just remove the flag column.-->
<!-- begin player list -->
{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Mark | last = Cardona | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 180 | DOB = 1981-11-03 | college = DLSU | nat = PHI }}
{{player2 | num = 6 | first = Eloy | last = Poligrates | pos =PG | ft  = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 180 | DOB = 1986-29-04 | college = SWU | nat = PHI | note = R }}
{{player2 | num = 7 | link = Simon Atkins (basketball) | alt = Atkins, Simon | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 180 | DOB = 1988-07-19 | college = De La Salle | nat = PHI | }}
{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Joseph | last = Yeo | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2  | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1983-09-07 | college = De La Salle | nat = PHI }}
{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Sean | last = Anthony | dab = basketball | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 200 | DOB = 1986-01-26 || college = McGill | nat = CAN | inj = yes }}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Jonas | last = Villanueva | pos = PG | ft = 5 | in = 11 | lbs = 175 | DOB = 1983-03-31 | college = FEU | nat = PHI }}
{{player2 | num =  13 | first = Eric | last = Camson | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 228 | DOB = 1990-06-12 | college = Adamson | nat = PHI| note= R }}
{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Enrico | last = Villanueva | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 230 | college = Ateneo | nat = PHI | }}
{{player2 | num = 15 | link = Rogemar Menor | alt = Menor, Ogie | pos = GF | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 190 | DOB = 1986-12-04 | college = San Beda | nat = PHI }}
{{player2 | num = 16 | first = Mark | last = Borboran | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 170 | DOB = 1981-11-01 | college = UE | nat = PHI }}
{{player2 | num = 17 | first = Aldrech | last = Ramos | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 215 | DOB = 1988-04-03 | college = FEU | nat = PHI }}
{{player2 | num = 21 | link = Chito Jaime | alt = Jaime, Chito | pos = GF | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 200 | DOB = 1983-10-21 | college = AMA | nat = PHI }}
{{player2 | num = 63 | first = Michael | last = Burtscher | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 210 | DOB = 1985-03-08 | college = CCC | nat = SWI }}
{{player2 | num = 88 | first = Asi | last = Taulava | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 245 | DOB = 1973-03-02 | college = BYUH | nat = TON }}
<!-- end player list -->
{{PBA roster footer
| head_coach =
*{{player||PHI|[[Franz Pumaren]]}} ({{college|De La Salle}})
| asst_coach =
*{{player||PHI|[[Jack Santiago]]}}  ({{college|Mapua}})
*{{player||PHI|[[Tonichi Yturri]]}} ({{college|De La Salle}})
*{{player||PHI|[[Pocholo Villanueva]]}}  ({{college|De La Salle}})
*{{player||PHI|[[Dan Rose (coach)| Daniel Rose]]}}
*{{player||PHI|[[Joshua Villapando]]}}
*{{player||PHI|[[Johnny Tam]]}}
| team_man =
| roster_url = http://www.pba.ph/teams/rosters/5
}}
==Season-by-season records==
{{further|List of Air21 Express seasons}}
:''Records from the [[2013–14 PBA season]]:''
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2|[[List of PBA conferences|Conf.]] !! rowspan=2|Team name !!colspan=4| Elimination round !!colspan=2| Playoffs
|-
! Finish !! W !! L !! PCT !! Stage !! Results
|-
|[[2013–14 PBA Philippine Cup|PHI]] || style="background:#492772;" rowspan="3"|<span style="color:#fff;">Air21 Express</span> || 10th/10 || 3 || 11 || .214 || colspan=2|Did not qualify
|-
|[[2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup|COM]] || 7th/10 || 3 || 6 || .333 || Quarterfinals <br />Semifinals || Air21 def. San Miguel** in two games <br /> [[San Mig Super Coffee Mixers|San Mig Super Coffee]] 3, Air21 2
|-
|[[2013 PBA Governors' Cup|GOV]] ||  7th/10 || 5 || 4 || .556 || Quarterfinals || [[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters|Rain or Shine]]** 111, Air21 90
|-
!colspan=3|Total elimination round !! 11 !! 21 || .344 !!colspan=2|1 semifinal appearance
|-
!colspan=3|Total playoffs !! 4 !! 4 !! .500 !!colspan=2|0 Finals appearances
|-
!colspan=3|Total 2013–14 !! 15 !! 25 !! .375 !!colspan=2|0 championships
|-
!colspan=3|Total franchise !! 34 !! 77 !! .306 !!colspan=2|0 championships
|}*one-game playoffs<br>**team had the twice-to-beat advantage
===Retired numbers===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
| colspan="4" style= "background: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|1}}; color: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|2}}" | '''Air21 Express retired numbers'''
|-
! style="background: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|3}}; color: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|4}}" | N°
! style="background: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|3}}; color: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|4}}" |Player
! style="background: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|3}}; color: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|4}}" |Position
! style="background: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|3}}; color: #{{PBA color|Air21 Express|4}}" |Tenure
|-
| '''18''' || [[Vergel Meneses]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 2002-2004{{ref label|Note1|a|a}}
|-
|}
* {{note label|Note1|a|a}}&nbsp;–  retired on December 18, 2013. Meneses wore #18 during his stint for the [[Pop Cola Panthers|Swift/Sunkist/Pop Cola]] franchise from 1993 to 1999. He played for the old FedEx/Air21 franchise (known as the [[Barako Bull Energy]] until 2016) from 2002 to 2004, wearing jersey #8.<ref>[http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/caguioa-all-praises-for-old-ginebra-mentor-meneses-parang-jordan-of-the-philippines Caguioa all praises for old Ginebra mentor Meneses: ‘Parang Jordan of the Philippines’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219013947/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/caguioa-all-praises-for-old-ginebra-mentor-meneses-parang-jordan-of-the-philippines |date=December 19, 2013 }}, Rey Joble, InterAKSYON, December 18, 2013</ref>
==Awards==
===Individual awards===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! style="{{PBA color cell|Air21 Express|border=2}}" | PBA Mythical First Team
! style="{{PBA color cell|Air21 Express|border=2}}" | PBA Most Improved Player
|-
| valign="top" |
* [[Asi Taulava]] ([[2013-14 PBA season|2013-14]])
| valign="top" |
* [[KG Canaleta]] ([[2012-13 PBA season|2012-13]])
|}
===PBA Press Corps Individual Awards===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! style="{{PBA color cell|Air21 Express|border=2}}" | Bogs Adornado Comeback Player of the Year
! style="{{PBA color cell|Air21 Express|border=2}}" | All-Rookie Team
|-
| valign="top" |
* Asi Taulava ([[2013-14 PBA season|2013-14]])
| valign="top" |
* [[James Sena]] ([[2011-12 PBA season|2011-12]])
|}
===All-Star Weekend===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! style="{{PBA color cell|Air21 Express|border=2}}" | All-Star Selection
|-
| valign="top" |
* KG Canaleta ([[2013 PBA All-Star Weekend|2013]])
|}
==See also==
* [[Shopinas.com Lady Clickers]] ([[Philippine Super Liga|PSL]] women's volleyball team)
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111229040917/http://clickers.shopinas.com/ Official Website]
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
|before = [[Barako Bull Energy Boosters]]
|after = [[NLEX Road Warriors]]
|title = [[List of defunct Philippine Basketball Association teams|PBA teams genealogies]]
|years = 2011–2014
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Shopinas.com Clickers}}
{{PBAdefunct}}
[[Category:Air21 Express| ]]
[[Category:Defunct Philippine Basketball Association teams]]
[[Category:Basketball teams established in 2011]]
[[Category:Basketball teams disestablished in 2014]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in the Philippines]]
[[Category:2014 disestablishments in the Philippines]]