Joseph Yeo played by far his best game in a Barako Bull uniform as he powered the rampaging Energy Colas to a come-from-behind a 105-99 win over the Meralco Bolts yesterday in the first game of the 40th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the main game, the San Miguel Beermen logged their third straight win by defeating the Star Hotshots, 100-89.
Cebuano big man June Mar Fajardo had 21 points and 20 rebounds while import AZ Reid top scored with 29 points as San Miguel improved to 3-2 (win-loss).
Acquired in a conference-break trade from Barangay Ginebra, Yeo finished with a team-high 28 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the three-point land.
Yeo also had six assists as Barako Bull remained the only unbeaten team in the 12-team field with its fourth straight victory.
By winning its first four games, Barako Bull tied the franchise’s best in the 2007 Fiesta Conference when the team was then known as the Air21 Express.
Though the team managed to preserve its spotless record, Barako Bull coach Koy Banal was still disappointed by the team’s sluggish start.
“This is the first time that we started slow. We allowed Meralco to out-hustle us early on,” said Banal. “(But) I’m thankful that the guys did not give up.”
Meralco was in control early when it seized a 31-12 lead early on. Barako Bull still stared at a double-digit deficit at the bend, 41-52, but turned the game around with a 34-point explosion in the third, allowing the Energy Colas to surge ahead, 75-73, with one quarter left.
Yeo helped the Energy Colas complete the comeback win by unloading 11 of his total output in the payoff period.
Barako Bull import Liam McMorrow had a double-double with 19 points and 23 rebounds while RR Garcia chipped in 14 points and five boards.
Andre Emmett fired 32 points for Meralco, which tasted its third loss in five outings.
BOX SCORES:
BARAKO BULL (105)– Yeo 28, McMorrow 19, Garcia 14, Pascual 12, Chua 12, Lanete 8, Intal 5, Wilson 3, Lastimosa 2, Ababou 2, Hubalde 0, Maierhofer 0.
MERALCO (99) – Emmett 32, Hodge 17, Cortez 9, David 9, Ando 8, Anthony 7, Guevarra 7, Ferriols 4, Dillinger 2, Nabong 2, Ildefonso 2, Sena 0.