In high school, Seigle led Carbondale to a Final Four in the state of Pennsylvania.[2] He then spent his junior and senior years playing for the New Orleans Privateers as a reserve.[3]
Professional career
Mobiline Phone Pals
In the 1997 PBA Draft, at the age of 24 years old, Seigle was drafted #1 overall by the Mobiline Phone Pals.[4][5] He was the first #1 overall pick be Filipino-American and the first to come from a non-Philippine school.[6][7]
Seigle was considered one of the most dominant and best defensive players early in his PBA career. In his first three games, he scored no less than 20 points, a feat that wouldn't be matched by another rookie until Bobby Ray Parks Jr. did it in 2019.[8] He would go on to win Rookie of the Year.[6]
Seigle only got a one-year extension from the Ginebra management and with the arrival of Rafi Reavis and Billy Mamaril, his minutes suffered.[14][15] He spent most of his time in his last season on the sidelines rather than on the court as he played only 30 games and just 8.9 minutes of playing time per outing, due to ACL injuries in both knees. As a result, the 6-9 center posted career-low averages of 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds.[15] He retired in 2007 after winning his last championship in the PBA.[16]
Andy is the brother of Danny Seigle, also a former basketball player in the same league.[20] Their mother, Blesylda Yadao, is of Chinese Filipino descent while his father is a White American.[11] In 2002, his heritage was questioned by the Philippine Senate as they held hearings on alleged Fil-foreign PBA players.[12]
Seigle was previously married to a Filipina, but they separated. They had one child together.[10]
Seigle has a passion for vehicles, and even owned a custom-made jeepney which he would drive to practices. As of 2020, he is living in Hawaii and owns a trucking business.[21]
References
^"Three Ejected in Exhibition at Minnesota". Lawrence Journal-World. November 17, 1998. p. 4C.
