TnT, BK coming out as sister teams?

Will Burger King and Talk n Text become sister teams? Will they still be allowed to trade players directly? Or will they now be regarded like corporate partners San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Purefoods with restrictions in their pro league deals?

These are among questions being asked by some PBA governors with Burger King, partly owned by Talk n Text chief Manny V. Pangilinan, set to take over the Air21 franchise.

Air21 president and team manager Lito Alvarez formally informed the PBA board of their intention to transfer the franchise in a meeting yesterday at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios and league legal counsel Melvin Mendoza will look over the documents submitted by Air21 then make the endorsement to the board in their next meeting.

Barrios said Alvarez submitted papers in compliance with the January 2002 letter by then commissioner Jun Bernardino to Air2100 Inc. in its entry to the pro league, taking over from Tanduay.

Air21 is transferring the franchise to a holding company named Lina Heim Corporate Services Inc. Burger King is a subsidiary of the holding company with Air21 owner Bert Lina being the controlling stakeholder of the fastfood chain.

In Bernardino’s letter, a 33 and 1/3 percent ownership can be considered subsidiary company and be used as franchise name in the league.

Sources said the Bernardino letter would compel Barrios to endorse the acceptance of Burger King.

Air21 intends to carry the name of Burger King effective next conference set to start next month.