PBA IMAGE by KC Cruz
MANILA, Philippines — Joseph Yeo notched his first career triple-double and Air21 overcame a huge deficit to beat GlobalPort, 109-103, in overtime Wednesday in the PLDT myDSL Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Yeo wound up with 19 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 14 assists for the Express, who fittingly ended a three-game slump on Christmas Day.
“At least the slump is over,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren. “Everybody really played well.”
“We didn’t quit when we were down and I think this is a mark of a team that really wants to improve its position,” Pumaren added, whose squad came back from 18 points down.
Apart from Yeo, the Express also drew sterling efforts from Asi Taulava and Mac Cardona as both poured in conference-bests 28 points each.
Taulava, who also had 13 rebounds, scored 14 points in just the fourth quarter and OT including a basket that forged extra session, 93-all, with 1:10 left in regulation. The veteran big man though, fouled out with still 2:22 left in extra time.
Cardona on the other hand, scored inside the paint over Sol Mercado that pushed Air21’s edge to four, 107-103, with 17.9 ticks remaining.
Mercado led all scorers with 35 points but it wasn’t enough as Batang Pier dropped to 4-5.