In Huddle
By Beth Celis

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, nothing new or earth-shaking was discussed during the PBA board meeting on Monday at the league offices in Libis, Quezon City.

Relaying a second-hand account of what transpired —which appeared in all newspapers Tuesday—a colleague said Air21 team manager-governor Lito Alvarez merely informed the board formally of his ballclub’s intent to transfer its franchise to a holding company called Lina Heim Corporate Services Inc.

Alvarez also submitted pertinent documents, including the incorporation papers of Burger King, a subsidiary of Lina Heim Holding, which will take over the Air21 franchise.

Bert Lina, who owns the Air21 franchise, is the majority stockholder of Burger King, which is also partly owned by Talk ‘N Text’s Manny Pangilinan.

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If the structure is this simple, why is everyone so confused about the ownership of Burger King, which they say will soon be the sister company of Talk ‘N Text.

One way or the other, Pangilinan will eventually become the majority shareholder of Burger King, if he still isn’t.

But where does Harbour Centre’s Mikee Romero come in? After all, he’s the man who hired Yeng Guiao to replace Air21’s Bo Perasol as head coach of the Lina franchise.

It was also Mikee who initiated the trade for Red Bull’s Cyrus Baguio and Celino Cruz.

Just what exactly is his role in the Burger King equation?

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No less than an Asian Institute of Management professor, who once hit the headlines of sports pages, explained to me how the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle will fall to complete the picture.

“Right now, it’s still status quo, with the Linas controlling the majority (shares) of Burger King and Romero, who will infuse fresh capital into the company for a projected expansion, conducting due diligence,” the professor said.

“It’s what is known in business as ‘capital call.’ The money that will be infused by Mikee will dilute the shares of all the stockholders, including Bert Lina, eventually making Mikee the controlling entity.

“Thus, he will then own Burger King. I just don’t know if Air21’s PBA franchise was part of the package or if he had to pay separately for this.”

The process of transferring ownership is ongoing, according to him.

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Apparently, there will be a transition period with the Linas, the Romeros, Pangilinan and Alvarez co-existing peacefully within the Burger King franchise. Lito will serve his term as PBA chair, while Mikee takes full responsibility in the management of the Burger King ballclub.

But that’s not all. My colleague said he predicts a bigger role for Mikee, in addition to his capacity as Burger King alternate governor.

“Wanna bet he’ll be the new RP team manager?” he said.

According to the scribe, with Yeng Guiao now coaching for Burger King, Tony Chua of Red Bull is expected to resign as manager of the national team.

If Chua resigns, the sponsorship and management of the national team will be offered to Coca-Cola, he said. Most likely, though, it will fall on the shoulders of Yeng’s new team Burger King and his new boss Mikee Romero.

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While the professor wasn’t sure how Romero and Pangilinan would split the Harbour Centre pie, he said he wouldn’t be surprised if the port operations company makes a bid to buy another PBA franchise.

Not the Red Bull franchise, though, since owner George Chua has made it clear that it is not for sale.


http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20090114-183226/Mikees-role-in-Burger-King