JOSEPH Yeo unleashed his best game of the season, pouring 28 points to lift Barako Bull to a come-from-behind 105-99 win over Meralco to remain unbeaten in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Traded by Ginebra prior the start of the tournament, Yeo rallied the Energy from 19 points down and helped his team weather the Bolts’ rally in the closing minutes to match their all-time franchise best start to 4-0.
Liam McMorrow was again solid for Barako Bull with 19 points and 23 rebounds, while RR Garcia and Justine Chua chipped in 14 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Energy, who trailed 12-31 late in the first quarter.
“I’m so glad that Yeo went to us. When I knew he was going to be traded, wala nang isip-isip,” said Barako Bull Head Coach Koy Banal who lost Sol Mercado in that deal.
“Joseph was fantastic. But RR and Justine also stepped up and we had no choice but to put JC [Intal] and Dylan [Ababou] to Andre [Emmett] on defense,” Banal added.
Emmett, the prolific Meralco import, finished with a game-high 32 points but was a nonfactor in the final quarter.
The Energy were still trailing 41-52 at halftime but outscored the Bolts, 34-21 in the third canto to carry a slim 75-73 lead entering the final 12 minutes of the game.
Yeo anchored Barako Bull’s onslaught and built a 97-91 lead capped by Garcia’s three-pointer with 3:41 time left.
Sean Anthony hit a wild three-pointer in the next play for the Bolts, 94-97, and Cliff Hodge scored an undergoal stab to push Meralco within one, 96-97, 2:50 remaining.
McMorrow had a crucial putback in the next play to give the Energy a 99-96 separation and Jake Pascual padded their lead with a jumper, 101-96 with 1:37 left.
Hodge converted a three-pointer in the next play, 99-101, but Pascual again scored and Yeo sealed the win with a pair of free throws to hand Meralco its third loss in five games.
Hodge was the lone Bolts local player in double figures with 17 points, while their Asian import Seiya Ando was held down to just eight markers.
Image credits: PBA image