THE NINJA MAKES IT 3 STRAIGHT FOR BARAKO BULL COGS
AFTER JC Intal and Dylan Ababou’s big games during the team’s first two weeks in the PBA Governors’ Cup, Sunday was Joseph Yeo’s turn to shine.
Yeo, nicknamed ‘Ninja’, was at his element against Meralco, firing 28 points, including 11 in the last period to help Barako Bull complete come-from-behind 105-99 win.
Barako Bull coach Koy Banal said he is pleased to see Yeo transition smoothly to the team’s system since the Barangay Ginebra Kings traded him to the Energy just days before start of the conference.
“I think yung outside threat niya (Yeo) malaki. Ball player kasi si Yeo because he can penetrate and shoot from the outside that’s why it’s hard for our opponents to defend him because we have a legitimate big and inside presence in Liam (McMorrow) saka JC and Dylan pa,” noted Banal, whose team continued to surprise everyone after improving to a 4-0 record.
The team’s four straight wins to start the conference is the Energy’s best since pulling off the feat in the 2007 Fiesta Conference when they were still carrying the Air21 banner.
Since Yeo plays the dual role of playmaking and that of a scoring guard, Banal feels the Energy can shift anytime when he’s inside the court.
“Si Joseph bagay na bagay talaga sa team kasi si Liam, kaya nagkaka-opening kami sa ilalim eh dahil nakakatira siya (Yeo) sa labas,” he added.
Yeo, who also added six assists, two rebounds and one steal, earned the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of May 18-24, marking the third straight week that a player from the same team captured the weekly citation.
Star (then known as San Mig) veteran playmaker Mark Barroca cornered three straight Player of the Week citations during the 2014 Philippine Cup.
Barako Bull will be aiming for its fifth straight win on Wednesday when it plays the streaking San Miguel Beer side at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (RD)
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