By Reuel Vidal

THEY’RE back. Exciting, multi-talented imports once again take the floor when the Sta. Lucia Realtors battle the Burger King Titans at 5 p.m. today in Dumaguete City in the opening match of the Motolite-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference.

Anthony Johnson, who powered the Coca-Cola Tigers to a blazing start in the 2007 Fiesta Conference and the Sta. Lucia Realtors to a runner-up finish in the 2007 Brunei Cup, returns to reinforce the Realtors.

“We don’t want to gamble,” said Sta. Lucia mentor Boyet Fernandez. “We don’t want to get somebody who is good on paper pero pagdating dito, hindi naman pala. So we’re going with a proven talent. At least si Johnson, konting adjustment na lang ang kailangan because he already played for us.”

Johnson joins a team hungry for redemption after last year’s Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia was unceremoniously booted out early in this year’s All-Filipino Conference. The Realtors were bidding to become the first team to repeat as PBA All-Filipino champions in 24 years before they were mauled by the Alaska Aces, four games to two, in the semifinals.

The Realtors, led by last year’s Most Valuable Player Kelly Williams, want to bounce back after a disappointing stint last conference. Expected to team up with Williams are Denok Miranda, Nelbert Omolon, Ryan Reyes, Joseph Yeo, Norman Gonzales and ageless veteran Dennis Espino.

Also returning to duty for Burger King is burly Shawn Daniels, who powered the team, then known as Air21, to a third-place finish in the 2007 Fiesta Cup.

The Titans are just as hungry for redemption after going to the championship of the 2008 Fiesta Cup where they narrowly lost in seven games to the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.

The Titans have since undergone a major facelift. They changed their name from Air21 to Burger King; recruited Yeng Guiao as coach in place of Bo Perasol; released Don Allado, KG Canaleta, Doug Kramer and JC Intal; and took in Beau Belga and Chad Alonzo in return.