NEWLY installed Burger King coach Yeng Guiao came out fully prepared in his team?s game against the Talk N Text Tropang Texters Saturday.

But he was caught flatfooted when news came out that Mikee Romero, who headed the basketball operations of the squad for three months, won?t be running the affairs of the Titans squad anymore.

?I?m clueless,? Guiao told Standard Today when asked about his reaction. ?I really don?t know what to say and I really don?t know kung ano madadatnan ko sa game nu?ng Saturday.?

But Guiao, who also handles the Philippine men?s basketball team, need not worry of his future.

Incoming Philippine Basketball Association chairman Lito Alvarez, who will take over as team manager of the Burger King Titans, gave an assurance that Guiao will definitely stay as head coach of the squad.

But his deputies, Junel Baculi and George Gallent, as well as current team manager Erick Arejola, all belonging to Romero?s group, will have to go.

?I think hindi naman mamasamain ng grupo ng Mikee ?yung gagawin naming decision,? said Alvarez. ?This is basketball and you have to work with people you are comfortable working with.?

Alvarez is one of the stakeholders of Burger King, which is also owned by Bert Lina of Air21, the majority shareholder, Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas of Talk N Text and Wilson Young of Basic Holdings Corp., owner of Asia Brewery.

Should Guiao be given a free hand, he will most likely take in his longtime deputy Rhoel Nadurata, who is also part of the coaching staff of the RP team.

But Burger King also has a list of coaches from its pool that include PBA greats like Jerry Codi?era, Vergel Meneses and Allan Gregorio.    

?As far as the changes are concerned, the other stakeholders of the team will need to sit down and talk about the future of the squad, including the other members of the coaching staff.?

Talks between Burger King and the group of Harbour Centre owned by Romero bogged down after failed negotiations in the expansion program of the newest franchise in the pro league.

Burger King currently has 63 outlets in the country and Romero?s group has reportedly promised to help in the expansion program. It was the reason why the youthful Harbour team owner was tasked to run the basketball affairs of the Titans in the PBA and Romero even became the team?s alternate governor. Rey Joble