Burger King Titans off to blazing start

DUMAGUETE, Philippines – The Burger King Titans, formerly the Air21 Express, marked their first game in the pro league with a 96-87 win over the Sta. Lucia Realtors in a road game kicking off the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Lamberto Macias gym here last night.

The Titans came through with a balanced game and outplayed the injury-depleted Realtors, getting a triumphant start under coach Yeng Guiao and team manager Eric Arejola.

Meanwhile, Philippine Cup champion Talk n Text starts its bid for a possible double-championship in the season as it takes on Purefoods at 6:30 p.m. today at the Araneta Coliseum. Rain or Shine and Barako Bull clash in the other game at 3:50 p.m.

Before the TnT-Purefoods game, league commissioner Sonny Barrios will award the Tropang Texters their championship rings after winning the All-Filipino crown over the Alaska Milk Aces. The ceremony will be preceded by a short entertainment performance from Jed Madela.

In appreciation of their fans’ support in the recent finals, Talk n Text is giving away 2,000 free Upper B tickets in connection with their promo “Libre Ka, Pag Smart Ka.”

Burger King seized the early lead in the season-ending tourney as the Titans beat the Realtors on searing runs in the second half of the contest, the first in a series of road games featured in the “PBA Phoenix Fuel on Tour.”

The two teams engaged in a close battle in the first 30 minutes of play before the Titans fully hit their strides, turning a 49-58 deficit to an 87-73 spread midway through the fourth quarter.

Gary David, Shawn Daniels, Arwind Santos and Cyrus Baguio all put in at least 12 points each as they negated Anthony Johnson’s 32-point debut with the Realtors.

The Realtors started strong but lost steam in the second half playing short-handed minus the injury-stricken Dennis Espino and Ryan Reyes.

David and Daniels teamed up with second-stringers Marvin Cruz, Chad Alonzo and JR Quinahan as the Titans uncorked a decisive 17-3 run to surge ahead at 66-61.

The Realtors came within one, 71-72, at the start of the final period before Beau Belga and Egay Billones took their turns to carry the cudgels for the Titans, pushing BK 14 points up at 87-73.