Guiao, 2 others being considered to coach Burger King team in PBA

MANILA, Philippines - Three names including national-team head coach Yeng Guiao are being considered to take the helm of Burger King when the second conference of the Philippine Basketball Association gets underway, a team official said on Monday. Lito Alvarez, the president and team manager of Air21, said that once the PBA approves Air21's name change to Burger King, the team will prioritize "beefing up" its coaching staff. The names of Junel Baculi and Jorge Gallent, two multititled coaches from the Philippine Basketball League, also cropped up. "Anything is possible with us. We will open our doors to anyone who can be an asset to our team. We will do anything to help improve our squad," Alvarez, a Burger King stakeholder, said. Guiao ended his nine-year relationship with Red Bull recently, a team which he led to three PBA championships. Baculi was recently assigned as the director for basketball operations of the National University. Gallent has guided Harbour Centre to five straight PBL championships. While Alvarez said that any one of the three could join Bo Perasol, Air21's current coach, in the Burger King's coaching staff, it is unlikely Guiao would be hired merely to be Perasol's no.2. "Coach Yeng is a great coach and could become a welcome addition to any team. Malaking bagay siya. If Burger King makes an offer to him and magkakasundo-sundo kami, then he can immediately become a part of our team. But then again, I'm not the only one who decides on this," Alvarez said, adding that other Burger King business partners like Mikee Romero and Manny Pangilinan may have a different opinion. Alvarez expressed optimism that the franchise transfer from Air21 to Burger King would push through trouble-free. "We have already expressed our intentions to change our name and PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said they will present it to their legal department to study whether a transfer fee will be needed," Alvarez added. "I expect this thing to be tackled as well in the coming board meeting." - GMANews.TV