EXPRESS’ TRAINING SHIFTS TO HIGH GEAR
With still more than a month to go before the start of the Governors’ Cup, the Air21 Express have started to pick up their training routine.
“Medyo mabigat na yung training namin, as usual. Nakakapagod din talaga kung hindi ka sanay,” said guard John Wilson.
“Pero ayos lang sa amin yun, para maagang makundisyon,” added the former Jose Rizal University Heavy Bomber.
Focusing on skills and conditioning, strength coach Dan Rose said he just wants to enhance the training program of the Express.
“We don’t have a lot of big men in the team, so I think you already know what’s the plan,” said Rose, who emphasized that the Express will again rely on their run and gun offense to be able to match-up with the other ballclubs.
Coach Franz Pumaren admitted that so far the only legitimate big man in his team is 6-5 Noy Baclao, who is still undersized compared to his counterparts in other teams.
“We are on a different routine – performance drills, bangs and a lot of movements. That’s what we do. We’ve really started to pick up pace… but it’s not yet full throttle,” insisted Rose.
Commencing practice last June 3, Air21 was one of the teams that will have more than two months of preparation for the season-ending tournament.
“Heavy na kami kasi we need to prepare hard for the next conference,” said assistant coach Cholo Villanueva. “Two quarterfinals kami kaya syempre we want to improve every conference.”
“Pero isang factor lang itong gagawin namin sa team. Marami pang ibang adjustments na gagawin,” he added.
Villanueva, however, was quick to allay fears about peaking earlier than the ideal time.
“Hindi naman. Kasi pine-pacing naman ng maayos ni coach Dan (Rose) yung conditioning program. I think right on target naman yung program niya kaya walang magiging problema.”
Meanwhile, prolific import Zach Graham is expected to arrive on July 28 and will immediately join the Express’ training camp.
Graham’s return should be a welcome addition for Pumaren as the former Mississippi Rebels guard recorded an astonishing 37.56 points, 12.56 rebounds, and 3.78 assists average in 9 games in the same conference a year ago. (SBadua)
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