PBA wants more info on Burger King

By Waylon Galvez

At least six team governors are said to oppose the request of Air21 to change its PBA name to Burger King as they reportedly expressed doubts on the ownership structure of the team.

Though Air21 representative and Board vice chairman Lito Alvarez has maintained that Bert Lina remains as the majority owner of team, the six representatives reportedly want to see documents regarding the team’s ownership.

None of the six board members was willing to be quoted until the board meeting set next week, said a source.

"They have to show solid supporting evidence that it is indeed Mr. Lina who owns Burger King. Ang gusto kasi natin malinaw, lalo na ang proseso. We cannot simply approve it (change)," said one a league governor who asked not to be named.

According to league chairman Joaqui Trillo of Alaska, Air21 needs a two-thirds vote from the board to get approval to change its name to Burger King.

Another league source said that Air21 "will not get the needed two-thirds vote because at least six governors will not support the move."

Trillo has called a special meeting on Monday to discuss the matter at the league office in Libis, Quezon City.

But a vote is not expected to happen in the meeting since Alvarez will not be around.

"Mr. Alvarez already informed me that he’ll be in Baguio City on Monday and Tuesday. We’ll set another round of meeting so he could present the papers," Trillo said. "I hope everything goes okay."

The source added that if Air21 fails in its request, Burger King has to pay either the required transfer fee of at least P7 million or a new franchise fee of P70 million, depending on the decision of the board.

Rules would also be set, like team-to-team trading guidelines if the board finds that Burger King and TNT are sister teams.

Trillo said he made the decision to call the meeting despite the absence of a formal letter from Air21 of its plan to change name.

Trillo said several board members have called his attention on the publicity that Burger King is getting, including its near-to-signing Yeng Guiao as head coach.

"We just want to set things in order because some team governors already called me asking this thing about Air21. Also, they’re in the newspaper almost everyday," Trillo said in a phone interview.

"Nothing’s on the table, we haven’t received any formal request (from Air21) of their plan to change its name to Burger King," he added.

The league chairman said that he sees no problem with Air21’s plans to change name to Burger King, a fast-food chain company, "as long as everything (documents) is in order and it is legal."

Alvarez said that Burger King is a legal subsidiary of the Lina Group of Companies, with Lina as majority shareholder with 60 percent.

On the other hand, telecommunication mogul Manny V. Pangilinan, the Talk ’N Text owner, has a 13 percent stake, while Wilson Young of Tanduay, Ricky Vargas of PLDT and Alvarez himself each has a five percent share.

Also expected to join the group is Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero.

PBA wants more info on Burger King

PBA wants more info on Burger King

PBA wants more info on Burger King :: Comments