Arigo, Yeo flash fiery forms, share week's honor

John Arigo proved he’s still a force to reckon with at Cola-Cola while Joseph Yeo showed he remains Sta. Lucia’s go-to guy in the KFC Philippine Cup.

By leading their respective teams to crucial victories, Arigo and Yeo were named the PBA Press Corps’ Accel/KFC co-players of the week for the period Dec. 15-21.

Arigo flashed his old form by churning out a 31-point performance, leading the undermanned Tigers in a come-from-behind 88-86 win over Red Bull last Friday for a spot in the wildcard phase.

“It was a classic case of a veteran taking over,” said Coke interim head coach Kenneth Duremdes of Arigo’s solid game at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The Tigers played without injured key frontliners Asi Taulava and Nic Belasco. “He delivered when we needed him most. He showed he’s still one of the team’s leaders,” Duremdes added.

In contrast, Yeo took over from defending champion Sta. Lucia’s struggling starters and poured in a game-high 25 points to rally the Realtors past the Red Bull side, 102-98, last Sunday for an outright quarterfinals berth at 10-8.

“Yeo stepped up the most and it’s sort of expected because he’s really been our ace off the bench,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

Yeo scattered 22 of his 25 points in the second half and, with team captain Dennis Espino, boosted their comeback from a 45-65 third quarter deficit.

“I just showed my capability to create offense and draw the defense,” said Yeo, the former UAAP and PBL star.

Yeo, a No. 3 pick by Coca-Cola in the 2006 Draft, is comfortable with his role as the team’s sixth man.

“Every time coach looks for somebody to step up, he would remind me that ‘I depend on you.’ Especially if our starters struggle.”

Many expected more of the same from Arigo, the No. 5 pick in 2001 who seemed to have faded from the limelight following a spate of injuries and run-ins with head coach Binky Favis.

But given the chance to shine last Friday, the 30-year-old Arigo seized the moment as he dished out his highest output since a career-best-tying 35 points in a 104-97 win over FedEx during the 2004-05 edition of the same tournament.

He shot 13-of-20 from the field, including 4-of-6 from the three-point area, and likewise pulled down eight rebounds as Coke wound up the eliminations with a 7-11 win-loss record.

The finish was good for only ninth spot, but it is one Duremdes and his team, given up for lost, could live with.

“We survived and it was a very important win since it meant we still have something to look forward to in the conference,” said Duremdes.