Now it's the Gordon's Gin Boars' turn to torch the bridge between them and Edward Joseph Feihl.

In a strongly worded press statement read by La Tondena president Ber Navarro in the PBA media office at the Cuneta Astrodome last night, the franchise holder of the Gordon's Gin (formerly Ginebra San Miguel) said it ``does not want EJ Feihl in our team'' but will exercise all options available to get as much as it can in future deals pertaining to the disgruntled seven-footer.

Navarro said Gordon's decision was reached yesterday afternoon following a closed door meeting with PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino and league legal counsel Butch Cleofe and after reports came out in almost all newspapers Monday that Feihl had signed a one-year contract with AMA Computer College in the PBL.

"No way we will continue our talks with EJ. He's fooling us," added Navarro. "We are no longer interested on him."

Navarro rued the fact that despite moves by La Tondena - with the help of Bernardino - to try and resolve the issues surrounding the holdout of Feihl, the latter betrayed their trust when he sealed a deal with AMA Computer College last Feb. 15.

It can be recalled that Feihl, through the office of Bernardino, came out with a press release that he is returning to the negotiation table with his team of two years. He likewise fired the controversial Noni Mediarito as his manager - a move hailed by both the Gordon's Gin and the PBA.

But on the same day that the news came out on the alleged firing of Mediarito, he entered into a contract to play in the PBL.

What further irked Gordon's Gin was the fact that Feihl even met with playing-coach Robert Jaworski for nearly two hours on Feb. 16 and he never mentioned anything about the contract.

Feihl's contract with Gordon's Gin expired last Dec. 31 but the ballclub still has first crack at re-signing him under the "right of first refusal" rule of the PBA. If he fails to suit up for a new team other than his old ballclub, he must sit out the 1997 season.

"We are only fighting for what is right. The organization (PBA) has to stand to something. We have rules para my order, tama na 'yung pagbulag-bulagan o labu-labuan ng usapan. At tama na rin 'yung padrama-drama diyan," said Jaworski in referring the issue to the PBA while scoring Feihl for his previous and present antics.

"Wala akong dapat panghinayangan sa kanya, siya ang dapat manghinayang. Baka kung si Olajuwon pa siya," added Jaworski. "Wala namang pagkukulang ang team sa kanya."

Navarro agreed that it is up to the league on whether to ban or give sanctions to Feihl. On the possibility of simply going for a trade to end it all, he said: "Trading him, if it is one of our options, we will. But we still have the whole year to exercise that option."

Feihl admitted before Bernardino that he entered into a deal with AMA Computer when he was summoned by the latter late Monday. During the course of the closed door meeting that included his new manager and aunt Eva Lisbo and his girlfriend, Feihl also agreed to sign a one-year pact with Gordon's Gin on the condition that he would be given unconditional release after the expiration of the contract.

"He told commissioner Bernardino that he was in a state of confusion when he went to AMA Computer and signed a contract that would give him a P50,000 monthly salary,'' said a source who was privy to the meeting. ``And he also added that he acted alone and without the knowledge of his new manager." -EDGARD HILARIO

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February 17,1997
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February 16,1997
PBA 23rd season opens with grand slam coaches.

February 15,1997
Coach sees new role for Alvin

Alaska's winning lineup broken, but not its spirit.

Feihl wins MVP.

February 14,1997
Guiao on Feihl case: PBL not under PBA.

February 13,1997
DOLE okays Jacobs permit

February 12,1997
EJ Feihl joins PBL.

Puyat wants GAB to force PBA to play for RP team.