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ROBERT JAWORSKI could be back to the sport that made
many call him the Living Legend of Philippine
basketball, thanks to an Air21 team that is willing to
hire the former senator.
Air21
team manager Lito Alvarez is meeting Jaworski tomorrow
for a crucial exploratory discussion aimed at making the
former Philippine Basketball Association icon 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,” said Alvarez.
Alvarez
said the Linas have long been friends with the Jaworski,
who has been a constant guest of honor and speaker of
the Tour ng Pilipinas, which Lina, also the Philcycling
president, revived five years ago.
Alvarez
revealed that with regards to their current coach Bo
Perasol, there will 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, from whom he said he will learn a lot. And
besides, Bo is really an employee of Airfreight 2100 so
there’s no problem,” said Alvarez.
Jaworski’s magic touch, according to Alvarez, might be
what the doctor ordered for a young and exciting team
such as the Express.
“Senator
Jaworski has been successful in every endeavor where he
dipped his [hand] into. First as a player, then as a
coach and more recently, as a senator of the Republic.
Just the thought of him coaching this team gives me the
goose bumps,” said Alvarez.
The
Express team manager, however, clarified he is not
putting undue pressure on Jaworski to transform the
Express overnight.
“Even
his former Ginebra team didn’t become a champion in such
a short time. But what’s important is the system that he
will infuse into 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 will hook up with the Express, he brings with
him a résumé that is beaming all over.
Besides
being a multiawarded former Most Valuable Player of the
pro league, Jaworski won four titles with Ginebra San
Miguel/Anejo Rhum. He was also responsible for
transforming unheralded players into superstars, such as
Rudy Distrito, Dondon Ampalayo, Leo Isaac and Dante
Gonzalgo. |
