Joseph Yeo

From Hoopedia

Joseph Yeo(born September 9, 1983 in Manila, Philippines) is a 6 ft 0 and 175 lb guard who is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Sta. Lucia Realtors.

About the Player

In the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), La Salle’s Joseph Yeo took some of the scoring load from the more illustrious Macmac Cardona during the 2004 season.

In the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), Joseph Yeo led his team, Harbour Centre Portmasters, to its first PBL crown alongside ex-Ateneo star L.A. Tenorio by winning the 2006 Unity Cup Finals against Toyota Otis.

Drafted 3rd overall by Coca-Cola Tigers in the 2006 PBA Draft just behind Kelly Williams and Arwind Santos, Yeo played limited minutes as a reliever of the Tiger’s main-man John Arigo. Despite the limited playing time, Yeo still managed to average 10ppg, 4.6 rpg and 1.2 apg in 26 minutes per contest halfway into the elimination round of the 2006-2007 PBA Talk N Text Philippine Cup. However, this did not stop critics from calling Yeo a bust and attribute this to his lacking in size to play the “2” spot.

Nevertheless, the Sta. Lucia Realty team believes that the high flying acts, improved perimeter shooting, fearless drives and tenacious deffense of Yeo is what they need to get to the Finals. When the opportunity opened to acquire the new aerial highlight, SLR did not hesitate in parting with a pair of FEU stalwarts in Mark Isip and Cesar Catli to get Yeo plus a future draft pick.

Nicknamed “The Ninja”, Joseph Yeo is also known for his squabbles with Ateneo alum and rival Enrico Villanueva. It started in a charity game featuring former and current stars of Ateneo and De la Salle, and carried on to a regular PBA game pitting the Barakos against the Coca-Cola Tigers. When they saw each other in the parking lot, they were at it each other’s throat again. Fortunately, no critical injuries were inflicted that could have cost them their career.