PBA: Yeo triple-double lifts Air21 past GlobalPort in OT

A triple-double from Joseph Yeo and 56 big points from the duo of Asi Taulava and Mark Cardona propelled the Air21 Express to a Christmas day overtime win against the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 109-103, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena, in the 2013-14 PBA Philippine Cup.

It was just the second win of the conference for Air21, as they improved to 2-8. GlobalPort took a step back from being .500, to fall to 4-5.

In the extra period, the Express rode Taulava for six points, before Sol Mercado rung in a triple to cut the GlobalPort deficit to one, 99-98. With still two minutes and change remaining in the game, the Air21 big man fouled out with 28 big markers, as Washington connected twice from the stripe for the lead.

A Canaleta triple and a Manuel split was followed by a pair of free throws from Yeo, as the Express held on to a 105-100 advantage. Washington wouldn't quit for the Batang Pier, though, canning an and-one to cut the Express' advantage to two with 32.5 remaining. Mark Cardona then took charge for Air21, banking one in to make it a four-point game anew, as GlobalPort missed at the other end.

"Total team effort. We didn't quit. That's the mark of a team that's trying to improve," said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren. "In spite of us losing, we're still upbeat about our situation."

Yeo had an all-around game, scoring 19 points with 10 rebounds, 14 assists and two steals.

The Batang Pier had a strong start, going up 11-4 after a pair of conversions from Rudy Lingganay and Jay Washington. Air21 mounted its comeback through Vic Manuel and Asi Taulava, as Mark Cardona gave the Express a taste of the lead at the 3:41 mark, 19-17. Sol Mercado and the rest of the Batang Pier would have none of it though, as they unleashed a 9-0 run capped by a Jondan Salvador jumper, 26-19.

A Nico Salva pull-up and a Mercado drive then ended the first with GlobalPort ahead, 32-21.

Batang Pier's sweet shooting extended to the second period, as they found their mark for a 39-24 advantage after a Mercado jumper. Mark Cardona stopped the bleeding with a long bomb, but Lingganay took it back, 42-27. The lead ballooned to 18 after a Jay Washinton fadeaway, 49-31, but the Express took it back with a 16-4 run, after a pair of Asi Taulava charities, ending the half down by just six, 53-47.

A tit-for-tat exchange ensued at the beginning of the third, before baskets from Vic Manuel and Eric Camson cut the Batang Pier lead to one, 61-60. Lingganay and Salva went on a run to string four together, but Cardona and Yeo conspired to tie the game at 66-all. Back-to-back baskets from Mark Cardona handed the Express a four-point edge heading into the fourth, 70-66.

Free throws from Sol Mercado, Terrence Romeo and Jay Washington had GlobalPort creeping to retake the driver's seat, 76-73, before a Joseph Yeo trey tied the game. With less than four minutes remaining, KG Canaleta knocked down a trey to make it a two-possession game, but back-to-back triples from Mercado canceled out a Taulava make, 86-all.

Four from Romeo put GlobalPort on top, but a Taulava split and a Manuel put-back made it 92-89 for the Express with 92 seconds to go. With under a minute remaining, Air21 was able to tie it up thanks to a Taulava make, 93-all, as Romeo missed a go-ahead basket. Mark Cardona had a chance to win the game in regulation, but his attempt also failed to fall through, sending the game to overtime.

Helping Yeo out was the duo of Asi Taulava and Mark Cardona, who each scored 28 markers. Taulava was an efficient 11-of-17 from the field with 13 boards, prior to fouling out, while Cardona sparkled with a 12-of-20 clip, in addition to four boards, two dimes and a block.

Sol Mercado went nova for 35 points, hitting half of his 10 triple tries, but it just wasn't enough. Jay Washington had 21 points and nine boards, Terrence Romeo shot 1-of-10, but connected on all but one of his 15 free throws for 16 points, plus seven boards and five assists. Fellow rookie Nico Salva had nine markers as well.

A 15-4 edge in second-chance points was a big boost to Air21. It offset somewhat the 75.8 percent shooting clip of the Batang Pier from the foul line, where the Express were a mere 60 percent.  - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Air21 109 - Taulava 28, Cardona 28, Yeo 19, Manuel 14, Canaleta 11, Camson 5, Jaime 2, Custodio 2, Menor 0, Arboleda 0, Sharma 0

GlobalPort 103 - Mercado 35, Washington 21, Romeo 16, Salva 9, Lingganay 7, Menk 5, Salvador 4, Yee 2, Hayes 2, Garcia 2, Nabong 0, Chua 0

Quarter scoring: 21-32, 47-53, 70-66, 93-93, 109-103