By WAYLON GALVEZ

Burger King, now handled by national coach Yeng Guiao, will be tested right on opening day of the 2009 PBA Fiesta Cup on Feb. 28.

The BK Titans will face off with the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the lone game at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center in Dumaguete City.

The PBA yesterday released its one-week schedule that includes six play dates that will be held at the Araneta Coliseum, Astrodome in Pasay City, Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City and Batangas City.

Guiao joined Burger King (formerly Air21) recently after he parted ways with Red Bull.

Burger King is Guiao’s fourth team in the PBA after Swift, Mobiline/Talk ’N Text and Red Bull.

The Titans, now handled by Mikee Romero, have high hopes with Guiao’s arrival.

The team has called back Shawn Daniels as import and will be up against newcomer A.J. Jackson, a former Robert Morris University Colonials stalwart who will be the reinforcement of the Realtors.

On March 1, ex-pro Leo Austria will make his pro coaching debut as Barako Bull, formerly Red Bull, against Rain or Shine.

The Elasto Painters, who earned an outright quarterfinals seat with a 10-8 card, will have former and probably temporary import Charles Clark III.

Jai Lewis, teammate of rookie Gabe Norwood at George Mason University, is on standby.

The Energy Boosters will have as import former University of Tennessee Scooter McFagdon, who recently played for a Chilean team in a professional league in Argentina.

Newly-crowned Philippine Cup champion Talk ’N Text debuts against Purefoods on the same day.

Both teams will have new imports.

TNT, which beat Alaska in seven games in the finals, will rely on Tiras Wade, who played for Louisiana-Lafayette, while the Giants will have fresh graduate Reggie Larry from Boise State University.

Alaska, which is waiting for former Best Import winner Rosell Ellis (see related story), takes on San Miguel Beer and Nate Carter while Coca-Cola battles defending champion Barangay Ginebra on March 4 at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The Kings will bring in ex-import Rod Nealy, who played for the team two seasons back, while the Tigers will have former TNT reinforcement J.J. Sullinger as temporary import pending the arrival of onetime ex-Bull import James Penny on March 15.

Ginebra also bolstered its line-up following a three-team trade by adding JC Ital and Doug Kramer from Air21 and Chico Lanete from Purefoods.

In return, Burger King got Beau Belga and Chad Alonzo from Purefoods and future picks in the Rookie Draft, while Purefoods received Nino Canaleta and Don Allado from Air21.

Sta. Lucia and Talk ’N Text play anew on March 5 in a venue to be announced in the coming weeks. Barako Bull meets Coke, while Ginebra clashes against Burger King on March 6 at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

In another out-of-town game, Purefoods tangles with Rain or Shine on March 7 in Batangas City.


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