TOP DRAFT PICK Andy Siegle goes up against bigger, tougher Philippine Basketball Association slotmen in two more preseason exhibition games this week. (Freddie MANALAC)

After winning its first three exhibition games this year by an average margin of 19 points, vastly-improved Mobiline breaks in Fil-Am prize find and this year's No. 1 draft pick Andy Siegle against bigger, tougher Philippine Basketball Association slotmen in two more preseason exhibition games this week.

The Cellulars, which earlier defeated Philippine Basketball League teams Agfa and Stag by an average of 20 points last week, and Formula Shell, 97-80, last Wednesday, tangle with Sunkist Orange in Butuan City on Feb. 6 before squaring off with Gordon's Gin, the former Ginebra San Miguel squad, in Subic, Olongapo City on Feb. 8. After seeing Siegle against Mark Telan and Chris Cantonjos, two of the country's best amateur centers, and Benjie Paras of Shell, many PBA fans are now eager to find out how the 6-foot-8 Siegle will match-up against Sunkist's 6-foot-9 Bonel Balingit, 6-5 Zaldy Realubit, 6-6 Jack Tanuan and 6-6 No. 2 pick and fellow Fil-Am Nicholas Belasco, and Gordon's Gin 6-foot-9 Marlou Aquino.

Siegle, 24, whom new Mobiline coach Norman Black described as just adjusting his way to the local brand of play, had 25 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes in Mobiline's 106-89 rout of the Pilseners last Jan. 25 and scored 15 against the Paras and Estong Ballesteros-led Shell. He is expected to have his hands full anew against Sunkist's Balingit, the 1995 Most Improved Player who is coming back from knee surgery, and Gordon's Gin's Aquino, last season's Rookie of the Year and Governors Cup Best Player of the Conference. "We're giving (Siegle) all the opportunities to get in basketball shape. We're making him adjust to the local brand of play by playing a couple of PBL teams first before we take on the PBA teams. You have to realize he hasn't played organized ball in a year. But compared to the game against Stag, Siegle played a much better game and was more in control against Shell," said Black, the former San Miguel coach.

He, however, cautioned fans not to expect much from their Fil-Am recruit at this stage. "I don't think he'll be dominant in the PBA but I'm confident he'll be a factor for Mobiline," Black said. The Butuan encounter, billed as "The Caraga Battle of the Giants" and sponsored by Land Bank of the Philippines-Butuan in cooperation with the Mancao Chain of Stores, Tita's Cafe I & II, Downtown Computer Center, Chus, Fortune I & II, Dyteban Hardware and Royal Plaza Hotel for the benefit of the Caraga Higher Education Institution Networking Foundatin, is set for 5 pm at the Urios Colege Gym.

Gametime in the Subic match, billed as "The Preview of the Giants" this time and sponsored by Royal Duty Free, NDK Builders and Marmont Hotel, Ocampo's-Olongapo, Wimpy's, Sotero Gen. Suzuki Beach Resort, Frankie's Inn and Halfmoon Hotel for the benefit of the Good Samaritan Foundation of the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital, is also at 5 pm at the SBMA gym. Both exhibition games are being organized by Brave 5 Entertainment, Inc. which is headed by Mrs. Beth Olano.

January 31,1997
Manager claims Arab team wants EJ Feihl.

January 30,1997
Espino, Sta. Lucia to ink 5-year, P20-million pact.

No deal that became big deal.

January 29,1997
Sta. Lucia to Espino: 'Sign now or sit out 1997 PBA season'.

January 26,1997
Siegle fans disappointed.

January 25,1997
Siegle-led Mobiline completes lineup.

January 24,1997
Jaworski changes tune, wants Feihl to come back.