Air21 Express (2011-present)
| Air21 Express | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| History | |
|
Shopinas.com Clickers (2011–2012) Air21 Express (2012–2014) |
|
| Joined PBA | 2011 |
| Team colors | Indigo, White, Orange |
| Company | Airfrieght 2100, Inc. |
| Owner(s) | Alberto Lina |
| Board governor | Lito Alvarez |
| Head coach | Franz Pumaren |
| Retired numbers | 1 (18) |
| Disbanded | 2014 |
| Championships | |
| None | |
|
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|---|---|
 |
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| Colors | |
| Uniforms | |
    Light uniform
|
  Dark uniform
|
The Air21 Express were a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) that debuted in the 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) to be renamed as the NLEX Road Warriors.
Energy Food and Drink Inc., owner of the original Barako Bull Energy Boosters franchise, had informed the PBA board on 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 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. 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.
On June 2011, Barako Bull informed the PBA it intended to sell its franchise to the Lina Group of Companies (LGC), owner of the Air21 Express franchise, reportedly for 50 million pesos. On 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. 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.
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