Air 21, now carrying the banner of Burger King tests the mettle of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas team in an exhibition game at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, prior to Game 4 of the All Filipino best-of-seven championship series between the Alaska Aces and Talk’N Text at the Araneta Coliseum.
Newly appointed Burger King coach Yeng Guiao who had earlier questioned the appointment of a foreign coach to handle the national pool under the SBP umbrella will come face-to-face with Serbian coach Rajo Toroman in their first encounter Wednesday. The coaching confrontation between the fiery Guiao and the Serbian mentor could well prove to be one of the highlights of the exhibition game.
The two teams are scheduled to meet again in a preliminary game on Friday before the SBP squad takes on Rain or Shine on Sunday provided there is a Game 6 in the PBA championship series.
Guiao didn’t appear to be too enthusiastic of playing the members of the national pool under Toroman since Burger King had practiced for barely a week and although he said the team is “doing okay” he doesn’t wish to risk being embarrassed.
Burger King team manager Mikee Romero wanted the youngsters in the SBP national pool to be tested even though Guiao’s squad is, according to the coach, “not quite ready.”
Barangay Ginebra which was requested to play the Toroman team in one game turned it down. Coach Jong Uichico who is on a brief vacation in Bangkok told us the team had hardly practiced and was currently going through a conditioning process before stepping up preparations for the import-reinforced conference.
Although a list of 18 names was submitted by the office of SBP executive secretary and former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala, www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports was informed that some players had declined to sign the contracts offered them by Eala.
Among those who have reportedly declined to sign the contracts which were initially branded as “onerous” were outstanding young talents Rico Maierhofer of La Salle , Ogie Menor of San Beda and Marcy Avellano of University of the East.
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