DENNIS ESPINO, left, has finally agreed to a multi-year contract with Sta. Lucia. He's shown here in file photo guarding Joey Santamaria of Mobiline.

Dennis Espino's ice-stiff demand has thawed somewhat, but has yet to melt completely. But where is EJ Feihl? Up to yesterday, nobody knows where the seven-foot behemoth was hiding. Reports said he joined the Shell team to Subic over the weekend but this remained unconfirmed. What's clear is Feihl has not responded to Gordon Gin's (formerly Ginebra) appeal for him to sit down with management and the coaching staff to thresh out problems and find solutions.

Three weeks into his well-publicized hold-out and amid swirling criticism from the press, the 6-6 Espino, accompanied by an elder brother, met with Buddy Encarnado, the Sta. Lucia Realty team manager, yesterday morning to discuss details of a much-delayed contract renegotiation. Espino is expected to sign a new contract today, a five-year package which will give him P300,000 a month for this season, P325,000 in 1998, P350,000 in 1998, P375,000 in 1999 and P400,000 in the year 2000 for a total of P20.25 million.

The amounts are inclusive of other perks, including a 600-square meter prime lot in Sta. Lucia's Parkwoods property in Pasig. Espino's agent-consultant, Nonie Mediarito, was not present during the one-and-a-half hour meeting yesterday at Encarnado's Sta. Lucia-East Mall office in Pasig. Asked where the agent was, Ed Espino said: "Wala. Ever since naman ay ako ang kasama ni Dennis, hindi si Nonie."

After the initial talks which lasted just before noon, Encarnado left the two to discuss Espino's counter-proposal with team owner Exequiel Robles, who holds office on the next floor. The Espino brothers were then asked to join Encarnado at Robles's office. Thirty minutes later, the three returned.

Espino is expected to join the Realtors' workout today after an absence of almost a month. According to Encarnado, Espino has reconsidered on his earlier demand for a P24 million. The elder Espino lamented the way his brother was painted in the press, insisting Mediarito was never Dennis's agent. Meanwhile, the Realtors also signed up free agent Elmer Cabahug, power forward Romeo dela Rosa and rookie Angelo David to two-year contracts. The Realtors are set to release reserve center Arnold Gamboa, who in turn will offer his services to San Miguel Beer which lost a big man when Vegildo Babilonia retired early this year because of heart problems. -TITO TALAO

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.

January 22,1997
Ginebra calls Feihl's manager 'a liar'.

January 21,1997
Ginebra wants Feihl back; No way says player.

January 20,1997
14 rookie PBA pros picked.

January 17,1997
PureFoods trades Racela to San Miguel for 'nothing'.

Jacobs' our man - SMB