BY NOLI CORTEZ

IT is only Air21's first PBA championship stint, but coach Bo Perasol refused to let any seeds of doubt be sowed into his team.

"To be intimidated is to feel negative, so that's out of the question," Perasol said yesterday during the pre-Finals press conference of the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference at the Emerald Garden restaurant on Roxas Boulevard.

"We have a company motto, which is, 'We deliver, no matter what.' That's what we keep in mind," he stressed.

The best-of-seven series starts tomorrow and the fact his Express are up against a team that has won seven titles was something Perasol did not want to dwell on for long.

"Just what we did before, at the start of the conference, we're setting modest goals, like taking it one step at a time," said Perasol. "As of now, we're working on the necessary things. Come Game 1, our goal would be to win it."

The ploy has so far worked wonders for Air21. The Express won 12 games in the eliminations, two more than their initial target, and automatically made it to the semifinals for the first time since joining the league in 2002. Now, the Bert Lina franchise has set its sighs on its first-ever PBA title.

Ginebra's current crop of players were there when the team snapped a seven-year slump and won last season's Philippine Cup, battling back from a 0-2 deficit against San Miguel Beer.

Perasol's adversary on the bench, Jong Uichico, said a team's hunger for championships is never sated, especially his Kings.

"We always try to come and win every championship," said Uichico, who was accompanied by Jayjay Helterbrand, Billy Mamaril, Junthy Valenzuela and Ronald Tubid, who has yet to fully recover from a dislocated left ankle.

Ginebra's appetite for more titles should gnaw at Perasol and Co., along with the team's legions of loyal followers who are expected to be there to cheer their favorite team.

"Ang alam ko, hindi na sila Barangay Ginebra," said Air21 guard Gary David, jokingly referring to their opponents' fans who seem to grow more by the day. "Ginebra City na sila."

"Their crowd is like their sixth man," noted Air21 import Steven Thomas.

Make no mistake about it, though, the Express are not cowed.

"Napakasarap kalaban ng Ginebra, dahil sa tao nila," said center Homer Se. "Pero wala din sila dahil limahan lang naman ang laro sa court."