And so ‘The Ninja’ is taking the news that he’s on the way out of Globalport with a grain of salt after being benched for the second straight game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday.
Yeo was in Globalport’s traditional neon-green uniform, but ended up listed as DNP (Did Not Play) in the 115-103 loss to Blackwater, the team’s third straight setback.
The 32-year-old shooting guard out of De La Salle said he’s no longer frustrated with the latest twist in his 10-year pro career.
“Sa totoo lang, hind na ako nafa-frustrate,” admitted Yeo. “Sa practice pa lang naman makikita mo na kung gagamitin ka o hindi.”
Yeo admitted being surprised when he wasn’t fielded in during the team’s loss to league leader Meralco Bolts a week ago. He was so upset with the way things went for him and the team that he had some ‘words’ with coach Pido Jarencio.
“Kinausap ko siya (Jarencio). Kasi nung una medyo na bad trip ako sa kanya (the last game). Kasi nagulat ako hindi ako pinalaro,” he explained. “Wala namang problema sa akin kung nanalo, eh kaso natalo pa. Kaya medyo na-frustrate ako.”
Yeo said he has since apologized to Jarencio, who stressed that the move was a gambit on his part.
The only thing Yeo could think about is he doesn’t fit Golbalport’s system.
“Hindi ko alam kung fit ba ako sa system nila o hindi,” he said.
He also disclosed being surprised by the rant made by team owner Mikee Romero on social media where he hinted about a GlobalPort shooting guard not playing according to his potential, which many assumed was Yeo.
“I was surprised dahil siyempre siya pa yung kumuha sa akin,” he said of Romero, who went out of his way to get Yeo from Barako Bull (now Phoenix) for the Batang Pier’s first-round pick in 2016.
But he said he understands where the GlobalPort owner is coming from, adding, “Feeling ko very disappointed siya sa showing ko kasi mataas ang expectation niya. Baka hindi ko naaabot yung expectations niya.”
Yeo said he’s just trying to create a positive mood within the team as he watched the action from the bench,
“Mino-motivate ko na lang yung ibang teammates ko to play well. I’ve been telling them na chance ninyo na ito dahil hindi ako makakalaro and wala rin si Stanley (Pringle),” he said.
At the same time, he’s also using the incident to motivate himself.
“Positive lang ako kung anuman yung mangyari. Sanay na rin naman ako diyan,” he stressed. “Motivation sa akin yun (trade rumors). Basta pakundisyon lang ako lagi.”