Duremdes named Tigers head coach

Coca-Cola has decided to keep Kenneth Duremdes as the Tigers’ coach.

The two parties are now on the negotiating table, working out a contract making Duremdes the permanent head coach of the Tigers starting the upcoming PBA Fiesta Conference.

Duremdes called the shots for the Tigers in an interim capacity after the team sacked coach Binky Favis four games into the Philippine Cup. The Tigers barely made the wildcard round and were knocked out by the San Miguel Beermen on Dec. 28.

“We have agreed to renew his (Duremdes’) services with the team. But there are no terms yet,” JB Baylon was quoted by a team insider as saying.

Despite Duremdes’ 6-9 win-loss record, the management was apparently satisfied with how he handled the team.

Duremdes acted as the Coca-Cola interim coach until the expiration of his contract as a player last Dec. 31.

“We are quite satisfied with his performance and we are hoping he will become the next Boyet Fernandez,” Baylon was also quoted as saying, referring to the youthful Sta. Lucia coach who steered the Realtors to last year’s Philippine Cup title in only his second conference as head coach.

The STAR source said Duremdes wants a three-year contract while the management is bargaining for two.

They hope to close out a deal soon so they can start looking for the right import and work on their plans for the import-flavored Fiesta Conference.

Meanwhile, Air21 president Lito Alvarez said Burger King is part of the Lina Group of Companies with the Linas being the controlling owner of the burger chain.

Alvarez earlier announced that the Express will play under the banner of Burger King starting next conference.

With Burger King under the Lina Group umbrella, Alvarez understands they will only pay a transfer fee of P7 million instead of a franchise purchase fee of no less than P60 million.

Burger King has a current chain of 23 outlets. Alvarez said they’re targeting to increase it to 60 in the next four years. – Nelson Beltran