By Waylon Galvez

For a team loaded with shooting guards and wingmen, as well as an import ready to lose a limb at the post, coach Yeng Guiao expressed confidence that Burger King can achieve its main goal in the coming PBA Fiesta Cup.

"Reaching the semifinals is a realistic objective," Guiao said yesterday as the BK Titans prepare for the season-ending conference.

"There’s improvement, maganda na ‘yung jelling ng team. As far as the system and my coaching style are concerned, they (players) are getting a hang of it, maganda naman ang reception and they’re responding to it," Guiao added.

The BK Titans will face the Sta. Lucia Realtors as the Fiesta Cup kicks off on Saturday in Dumaguete City.

Incoming Burger King alternate governor Mikee Romero, whose Harbour Centre recently completed a rare six-peat in the PBL, has said that he expects the Titans to contend for a semifinals berth.

Last season in this same conference, Air21 came short of winning its first ever PBA title, losing to Ginebra in Game 7 of the Finals.

Guiao, head coach of the all-pro national team that will compete in the FIBA-Asia championship this August in China, joined the team last January after he resigned as mentor of Red Bull.

Guiao’s inspiring attitude and winning record, having won five PBA titles — two with then Swift and three with Red Bull — combined with Romero’s passion and desire for winning is what makes BK one of the top contenders in the Fiesta Cup.

With the recent trades that shipped Doug Kramer and JC Intal to defending champion Ginebra and Nino Canaleta and Don Allado to Purefoods, Burger King, formerly Air21, was left with talented backcourt and wingmen.


http://mb.com.ph/SPRT20090226149103.html