PBA: Yeo hopes to turn fortunes around with Pumaren on board
GlobalPort’s Joseph Yeo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Joseph Yeo has had an up-and-down season so far to say the least.
After playing a key role in GlobalPort’s playoff run in the Philippine Cup, there was a point where he didn’t get to play at all in the Commissioner’s Cup and seemed to be on the way to getting traded again.
But after GlobalPort underwent major changes with Pido Jarencio relegated to handling the team’s basketball operations and former assistant team manager John Cardel promoted the head coach with Franz Pumaren as an active consultant, Yeo has buried the hatchet and is now looking forward to starting over as the new conference approaches.
“We have a system now kasi before hindi kami organized. Now, we’re more organized,” the 31-year-old Yeo told INQUIRER.net Wednesday after the Batang Pier lost, 82-73, to the Meralco Bolts in a tune-up game at Lyceum of the Philippines Gym in Intramuros as part of the PBA’s Campus Tour.
“Wala na [yung issue dati] kasi si Pido, wala na. Bago na, sila coach John na, coach Franz,” added Yeo, who played heavy minutes and had nine points in the absence of star guard Terrence Romeo.
Yeo is hoping that the appointment of Pumaren, someone he shared fond memories of including a UAAP championship with De La Salle University, will turn his fortunes around.
“I hope so, kasi with coach Franz alam niya kung paano ako gamitin. Alam niya how I play, anong capabilities ko and yung trust na binibigay niya sa akin so we’ll see kung anong mangyari,” said Yeo, whose first PBA reunion with Pumaren happened in the 2013 Governors’ Cup when he was acquired by Air21 Express in a one-on-one trade with Mark Isip.
Pumaren coached the Express from 2011 to 2014 before the franchise was sold to the NLEX Road Warriors.
“With coach Franz, he’s giving everyone a chance, like sila Jay [Washington], gusto niya lumabas yung laro. That’s coach Franz and you just have to prove yourself para makalaro ka. Ganon yung style niya. And kung wala, hindi ka makakalaro.”
