BY NOLI CORTEZ
COACH Yeng Guiao is set to make his PBA return on a team that has touches of his
old one.
Guiao yesterday confirmed he is close to signing a deal as
head coach of Burger King in the coming Fiesta Conference.
Guiao disclosed he had initial talks last Tuesday night with
Erick Arejola of Harbour Centre, which is owned by Mikee Romero, who is in turn
set to become a shareholder of the Whoppers.
The Pampanga vice-governor said they have already agreed "in
principle" and expects the deal to be finalized by end of this week.
"Only the details and finishing touches remain to be
discussed. I foresee no problems there," said Guiao, who resigned as Red Bull
coach last Dec. 27 after trades decimated the team to hardly a shade of its old
self.
"Of course, pinag-uusapan kung anong klaseng kontrata at
image, and we also touched on how to duplicate in the PBA the winning tradition
of their PBL team (Harbour Centre)," he added.
Guiao is set to be reunited with former Red Bull players
Homer Se, Cyrus Baguio and Celino Cruz.
"Okay aa akin ‘yun (composition of team)," Guiao said.
Romero is a minor shareholder at Burger King, which is set to
take over from Air21 starting in the Fiesta Cup that kicks off on Feb. 28.
"I would come in as a minority shareholder for now but once
expansion of Burger King goes full steam, I’ll pump in more money to help," said
the current PBL chairman and godfather of amateur basketball.
"I’ll help run the team this coming season together with the
Lina Group," Romero added.
Businessman Bert Lina, who owns Air21, is a majority
shareholder of Burger King. Talk N Text owner Manny V. Pangilinan, Tropang
Texters team manager Ricky Vargas, Air21 president and team manager Lito Alvarez
and Wilson Young of Tanduay are the other major shareholders.
Alvarez is the current Air21 representative to the PBA Board,
but Romero is set to come in as Burger King’s alternate governor.
"By process of elimination, kami lang talagang dalawa ni
Mikee ang pwede, kasi si Mr. Lina walang time for that (PBA board member) while
sina Mr. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas are identified as Talk N Text," Alvarez
said.
Alvarez also said there’s no need at the moment for Burger
King to pay a transfer fee or any other payment because "it’s just a simple
change of name from Air21.
"It’s like when we changed our name from Federal Express to
Air21. Dito naman kasi sa Burger King si Mr. Lina pa din ang majority
shareholder, so siya pa din ang may control," Alvarez said.
The matter is set to be tackled in a special PBA board
meeting, according to league media bureau director Willy Marcial.
Romero is a hands-on owner and his system has worked for
Harbour Centre. The Batang Pier have won a record five straight PBL titles.
Guiao, for his part, sees no problem working with Romero.
Apart from being the current coach of the PBA-backed national
team, Guiao has his own track record to speak for him.
In his eight and-a-half seasons with Red Bull, the fiery
mentor compiled a win-loss record of 245-201 (.549 percent). He also steered the
team to three PBA titles.
