By Reuel Vidal

What’s wrong with the Coca-Cola Tigers?

Even as their marketing people offered free Coke Zero at the gates of the Araneta Coliseum, the Coca-Cola Tigers offered the Burger King Whopper unguarded layups inside the playing court as Burger King trounced the listless Tigers, 127-109, in the Motolite-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Cup last night.

Burger King, still wearing their old Titans uniforms, virtually sealed the outcome of the match as early at the end of the third period after Cyrus Baguio scored on an open jumper to push the Whopper to a 22-point lead, 102-80, at the end of the third canto.

Burger King (4-2) thus climbed into solo third place behind the pace-setting San Miguel Beermen (5-0) and the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters (3-1). The Tigers (1-4) slid to a tie at last place with the Barako Bull Energy Boosters (1-4).

The rest of the teams include the Sta. Lucia Realtors (3-2), the Talk N Text Tropang Texters (2-2), the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants (2-2), the Alaska Aces (1-3) and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (1-3).

Burger King posted its biggest lead of 25 points, 115-90, after Celino Cruz scored on a layup with 5:23 to go in the game.

Gary David opened the third quarter with guns blazing, scoring on a triple, a layup and a pair of free throws to push Burger King to a fat 18-point bubble, 70-52, with 10:19 to go in the quarter.

David finished with a team-high 26 points while Arwind Santos added 24 markers. Baguio scored 21 points. Beau Belga and Wynne Arboleda were the other double-digit scorers for the Tigers with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Burger King import Shawn Daniels could only come up with 8 points but it hardly mattered as his team racked up another impressive victory.

Coca-Cola import JJ Sullinger led all scorers with 32 points. Man-mountain Asi Taulava added 27 points while newly acquired Leo Avenida and veteran Mark Telan had identical 14 points apiece.

New Coca-Cola import James Penny will arrive March 23 and is expected to suit up for the Tigers’ next game. Coca-Cola fans could only hope that Penny adds teeth to the anemic defense of the Tigers or they face another early elimination after their woeful ninth-place finish in the past Philippine Cup.

The scores:

Burger King 127—David 26, Santos 24, Baguio 21, Belga 12, Arboleda 11, Quiñahan 8, Daniels 8, Billones 8, Cruz C. 6, Villanueva 2, Rodriguez 1, Alonzo 0.

Coke 109—Sullinger 32, Taulava 27, Avenido 14, Telan 14, Cabagnot 11, Belasco 5, Buenafe 3, Enrile 2, Calimag 1, Macapagal 0, Misolas 0, Santos 0.

Quarterscores: 27-27, 61-52, 102-80, 127-109.