BURGER KING braces for a big game against Hapee Toothpaste in the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Whoppers head coach Allan Gregorio knows that the Complete Protectors would bounce back after being humiliated by powerhouse Harbour Centre Tuesday at The Arena in San Juan City.

“They will be coming off a huge loss so we must be ready,” said Gregorio as they gun for their third-straight win—sixth overall—in the 4 p.m. encounter.

“I’m sure they would come up with major adjustments and we just have to anticipate them,” Gregorio added.

Burger King is enjoying its best start in the conference and Gregorio wants to end the first round on a winning note.

Hapee, regarded as one of the favorites along with Batang Pier in the tournament, suffered an 88-69 shellacking to Harbour Centre and coach Louie Alas was totally dismayed with his wards’ performance.

“I could not understand why they played so bad that day, it’s just okay for me if we lost that game because Harbour really played great, but with that losing margin, I was really disappointed,” said Alas.

“I think they’re still adjusting to my system but if they want to play in the finals again, then they have to play real smart,” he added. “It should start with our game against Burger King.”

Alas said they need to stop Marcy Arellano, Khiel Misa and Mike Bravo to neutralize the Whoppers’ perimeter game, but they also need to work on their offense to avoid suffering their fourth loss in the tournament.

Only Jervy Cruz played decently the last time as the rest struggled the whole game against the defense of Harbour Centre. And Alas knows that there’s a lot to improve in his team.

In the first game, San Mig Coffee tries to arrest a two-game losing streak when it faces the reeling Bacchus Energy Drink at 2 p.m.              

Both teams are currently at the lower half of the standings with the Coffee Kings sporting a 2-4 mark, while the Raiders are holding a 2-5 slate.

Standings: Harbour Centre 6-0; Pharex 5-2; Burger King 5-2; Hapee 4-3; Noosa Shoes 3-3; San Mig Coffee 2-4; Bacchus 2-5; Toyota Otis 1-5; and Nokia RP Youth 0-4.

For Manny, a harvest of honors

Manny Pacquiao achieved another first Tuesday night after he became the only Filipino enshrined into the Flash Elorde Annual Awards at the Manila Hotel.

Luisito’s wish? That he finally gets his purse

REMEMBER Luisito Espinosa?

One of the country’s former two-division world champion is in town after staying in the United States for 10 years.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus does not agree that boxing should be banned in the Philippines, saying the sport has contributed much in giving the country global recognition.

ONE of the top boxing patrons in the country called for the head of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) to step down.

FRANCIS Casey Alcantara was left to carry the Philippines Wednesday in the 19th Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

BURGER KING braces for a big game against Hapee Toothpaste in the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

IT looks like it will be a very busy year for Harbour Centre as far as international competitions are concerned.

CARITO VILLAROMAN assured himself of another stint in the Philippine Open next week after topping the 36-hole qualifying tournament conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) with a closing one-over-par 73 played in another sun-baked Air Force course of the Villamor Golf Club in Pasay City.

EVERY time the country goes through a divisive political crisis such as what we have at present, a Manny Pacquiao fight mercifully takes place to unite all Filipinos under one flag, inside one ring.