Burger or Mail to banner Lina's second franchise

MANILA, Philippines - Burger King or Mail & More could well be the brand the Lina Group of Companies (LGC) would carry in taking over Barako Bull.

This developed as Air21 governor Manny Alvarez confirmed The STAR report yesterday that LGC and the Energy Food and Drink (EFD) Corp. have reached an agreement for the former’s purchase of the Barako Bull ball club.

“We will study the signed agreement, then endorse it to the PBA for its approval,” Alvarez told The STAR.

Alvarez said he’s not aware on whether Lina Group chairman Bert Lina has decided on what brand to carry in their second PBA team after Air21.

An insider, however, said it could well be Burger King or Mail & More, which are names they have carried in the PBA and in the PBL, respectively.

The Lina Group played under the banner of Burger King last season before deciding to revert back to Air21.

Smart-PLDT owner Manny V. Pangilinan and top executive Ricky Vargas have shares in Burger King, but Lina is the majority share holder.

If the sale is approved by the PBA board, the Lina Group becomes the third group to have more than one team in the PBA. San Miguel Corp. has three in Petron Blaze, Derby Ace and Barangay Ginebra while Smart-PLDT has Talk n Text and Meralco.

A reliable source said the agreement is that the Lina Group is buying Barako Bull for a little over P50 million.

The Energy Boosters have been on leave since the second conference, giving way to Smart Gilas’ guest participation.

Barako Bull, however, has been given only up to the end of the season to decide on its status. It must reactivate or it loses its franchise and all its rights as league member ball club.

Before encountering problems, Barako carved a great winning tradition in the local pro league, annexing three titles under coach Yeng Guiao.

It won its first crown in the league faster than the majority of other teams did. It had its initial championship only in its second season in the PBA in 2001.

Through the 2009-10 season, Barako had a .509 winning mark, the second best among active PBA ball clubs, next only to San Miguel Beer’s .556.

Willie Miller, Cyrus Baguio, Rico Villanueva, Larry Fonacier and Mick Pennisi were among players that started out with Barako.