NICOLAS Belasco of Pop Cola keeps the ball away from the clawing hands of Mobiline's Joey Santamaria and teammate (hidden) in this bit of PBA All-Filipino Cup action last night at the Astrodome. The Cellulars thumped the Bottlers, 100-81. (Bob DUNGO Jr.)

Playing what its coach said was their best game so far, new-look Mobiline dealt beleaguered Pop Cola its worst loss ever against them - a 100-81 blowout that sank the troubled RFM franchise deeper in the cellar in the PBA All-Filipino Cup.

It was simply a case of an emerging team making the most out of the predicaments of their disorganized rivals as the Cellulars, poured it on at the start of the final period, taking leads of as many as 22 points on the way to their third win against two defeats.

"We didn't really know what would happen tonight. We've heard about their internal troubles but we didn't know whether the'll come out of it demoralized or motivated," said Mobiline coach Norman Black, architect of the team's best start since going 3-2 in the 1995 All-Filipino.

Andy Seigle led the Cellulars with 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes of play but it was Alvin Teng, in collaboration with rookies Patrick Fran and Lowell Briones who put the Cellulars out of reach in the fourth period when Pop Cola threatened last at 58-63 on a fastbreak play by Zaldy Realubit.

Teng fired all but two of his 16 points in that stretch including a layup tht gave the Cellulars their biggest lead of the night, 87-65 going into the last four minutes. -MANNY ANGELES

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March 03,1997
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Jaworski charms PBA reporters.

Alaska halts Gordon's streak.

March 02,1997
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March 01,1997
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Gordon's stays sparkling clear.

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February 28,1997
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February 27,1997
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February 26,1997
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Jawo Jr. gets all the breaks.