INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Looks like it won’t be easy sailing for Air21 in its bid to play as Burger King in the Fiesta Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association which starts next month.

Certain members of the PBA board want Air21 owner Bert Lina to present “irrefutable proof” that he owns majority of the American food chain’s franchise in the country.

“They have to show solid supporting evidence that it is indeed Mr. Lina who owns Burger King,” a board member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Wednesday night.

“We want this to be very clear.”

A franchise fee of P70 million will be charged on Burger King if it is proven to be a new team. Otherwise, Burger King can play only after paying a P7-million transfer fee.

Air21 president Lito Alvarez, who is also the team’s representative to the board, had said that the Express will start playing as the Burger King Whoppers starting in the Fiesta Cup.

Alvarez said that 60 percent of Burger King is owned by Lina with Manny V. Pangilinan having a 13-percent stake and he, Wilson Young and Ricky Vargas 5 percent each.