Harbour Centre backs out of merger; BK revamp looms

MANILA, Philippines – The Burger King Titans basketball team will be reorganized barely two months after its formation as the planned Metro Pacific-Harbour Centre merger failed to materialize, forcing Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero out of the BK squad.

Romero issued a statement yesterday, announcing that he’s relinquishing his role as chief executive of the BK team which has taken over from the Air21 Express.

The BK shareholders, including top bosses of PLDT and the Lina Group, were to meet after the Burger King-Talk n Text game last night to discuss the reorganization. The immediate concern is who will now run the team.

In taking the BK rein, Romero brought in his Harbour Centre men, including team manager Erick Arejola, coaches Junel Baculi and Jorge Gallent and even the support staff. Romero was also the one who closed a deal with head coach Yeng Guiao.

The entry of a new boss could well lead to a revamp with Guiao likely to have new assistants.

“In the meantime, MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) and Bert Lina are likely to call the shots,” said a reliable source.

Romero was allowed to run the team on the assumption that Metro Pacific and Harbour Centre would merge then Romero would pour investments into Burger King.

Though the merger is not totally off, the business deal isn’t expected to materialize in the near future.

“I wish to thank Bert Lina and MVP for allowing me to run the Burger King Titans from January to March of this year. It was a dream come true for me to finally run a PBA team. Unfortunately, the dream must take a back seat as my group and the BK company did not come to terms,” said Romero.

“I salute every single individual from the ball boys to the BK overachieving players and to the Titans coaching staff for giving me an opportunity to work with them and having an open mind in accepting my own basketball philosophy,” Romero added.

In leaving BK, Romero said he would again devote his attention to amateur basketball while looking forward to returning to the pro league someday.

“I assured everyone that one of these days, I would rejoin the PBA and again fight the battles I truly enjoy. My dream will linger on,” said Romero.

The youthful businessman-sportsman said he would also help propagate the Filipino martial arts of arnis, kali and escrima.

“Together with Roland Dantes and Bill Velasco, we would be spearheading the revival of these martial arts. Hopefully, these become part of our high school PE curriculum much like taekwondo in Korea,” said Romero.