Jay-R for J.R.

Newly designated Air21 coach Bong Ramos is back on a PBA saddle after a stint with the Brunei Barracudas in the Asean Basketball League and he’s happy to be home.

Ramos said yesterday he’s looking forward to the Commissioner’s Cup which begins Feb. 18. A few lineup tweaks here and there welcomed his arrival with the switch from one J. R. to another Jay-R the biggest change.

Jay-R Reyes joined the Express in the recent multi-player trade involving Rain Or Shine, Meralco and Air21. Then, in a separate transaction, Air21 dealt J. R. Quinahan to Powerade for a 2013 first round pick and a 2012 second round choice.

Ramos said the Express is still looking for a pure shooter who can slash. A decision will be made any day now as to whom to pursue. Among the top candidates are Patrick Cabahug, Ramsey Williams and veteran Leo Avenido. Ramos’ Filipino imports with the Barracudas were Williams, Bryan Faundo and Chester Tolomia.

 “We’re looking at Cabahug or Avenido,” said Air21 team manager Allan Gregorio. “Avenido was named the best Asean import in the ABL and seems ready for a PBA comeback. Rudy Lingganay also played very well for Kuala Lumpur but he’s more of a point guard and we’re solid in that position (with Wynne Arboleda, Josh Urbiztondo and Marcy Arellano). I’m sure a lot of PBA teams are keeping a close watch on Lingganay.”

Air21’s import JaJuan Smith of the University of Tennessee is arriving tomorrow. A backup in case Smith doesn’t work out is Alpha Bangura of St. John’s University.

 “Smith plays two and three, exactly the position where we want to shore up,” said Gregorio. “He’s about 6-2. Alpha is finishing up his contract in Beirut and we’ll talk to him when he’s free. But our first choice is Smith.”

Gregorio said the day he left with Smart Gilas to join coach Rajko Toroman’s staff for the international invitationals in Dubai a few weeks ago, a call came from Air21’s PBA governor Johann Ramos.

 “I think my two brothers (Patrick and Ryan) were conspiring to make a trade and took advantage of my absence,” laughed Gregorio. “But in the end, it was a win-win-win situation. As they say, everybody happy. We got what we wanted. Meralco got what it wanted and Rain Or Shine got what it wanted.”

Gregorio said Air21 is deep at point guard and the 4-5 spots. The Express brought in Reyes to join Rabeh Al-Hussani, Noy Baclao and Carlo Sharma in the frontline while Reed Juntilla came aboard to take over from Ronjay Buenafe who went to the Elasto Painters.

Others in the Air21 cast are Rey Guevarra, Arboleda, Urbiztondo, Arellano, Wesley Gonzales, Leo Najorda and Lou Gatumbato. Gone from last conference are Quinahan, Ronnie Matias, Erick Rodriguez and Buenafe.

Ramos said his reunion with Arboleda and Gonzales is a positive development. “We were together before,” said Ramos. “I’m excited to be back in the PBA.”

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Don’t look now but the only Filipino to knock out Manny Pacquiao is set to make a ring comeback in Makati on Feb. 13. Rustico Torrecampo, 38, hasn’t laced up a pair of gloves since losing to Archie Villamor on a fourth round technical knockout in 1997. But down on his luck after stabbing a man to death in a fit of rage four years ago, Torrecampo is back in the gym hoping to relive his glory days.

Torrecampo is out on bail and his manager Lito Navarro said negotiations are going on to settle with the surviving family of the man he killed. This week, Navarro expects the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) to issue Torrecampo’s license.

The GAB’s Rudy Perez said Torrecampo will figure in a four-round bout in a smoker at Jason Soong’s gym on Jupiter Street off Bel-Air Village. An opponent from Laguna is being lined up to test Torrecampo who’s coming off a 14-year hiatus. The fight is set with a 118-pound limit.

 “It’s all systems go,” said Navarro who owns the Slim and Shape Fitness Center in Caloocan. “Torrecampo has been working out in the gym. He’s in good condition. He’s about 120 to 122 pounds now so he’s within the bantamweight limit. He hasn’t gained too much weight since he retired in 1997. He’s fast and strong. I’m here to support him. We don’t know how far he’ll go but we’re hoping for the best.”

Torrecampo’s moment of glory came when he knocked out Pacquiao with a single left hook to the jaw at 0:29 of the third round in Mandaluyong in 1996. He went on to lose four of his next seven outings that included a draw. Torrecampo fractured his left hand against Ricky Sales in winning a decision after halting Pacquiao then lost to Leo Ramirez in a bid for the Philippine lightflyweight crown.

In his heyday, Torrecampo campaigned as a lightflyweight (108-pound limit) and flyweight (112). He weighed 110 pounds in his bout against Pacquiao who tipped the scales at 113. Today, Pacquiao is a welterweight (147) and Torrecampo, a bantamweight (118). Torrecampo’s record is 14-8-5, with seven KOs.

Torrecampo will be paid P4,000 for his comeback fight. Under GAB rules, a fighter is paid P1,000 a round. It’s peanuts compared to what Pacquiao now earns---he’ll be paid at least $15 million to face Sugar Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on May 7. But for Torrecampo, it’s the beginning of a new tomorrow. It may be a futile exercise as Torrecampo could end up embarrassed, if not seriously hurt. Whatever the consequences, Torrecampo said he wants to find out if he still has what it takes to be competitive in the ring. We’ll know on Feb. 13.