MOTOCLUB NIPS YAP, PINGRIS BACKED YAP BENGUET

March 8, 2025 Community Billboard

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

Motoclub bucked a slow start, overcame an early seven point deficit and rally to move past Yap Benguet, 114- 103 in the Yap Benguet All Stars at the Benguet Sports Complex here last Saturday. It was a more competitive Yap Benguet this year with James Yap and Marc Pingris adding firepower for the locals, who, however fell short despite cutting the lead to only three late in the final canto A KG Canaleta two handed dunk concluded the match which saw nearly 3,000 locals trooping to the venue for the 48 minute encounter James almost singke handedly powered Benguet to
cut a 17 point Motoclub lead early in the fourth period.

The former Purefoods stalwart and former husband of a former presidential daughter turned actress started the ball
rolling for the locals and had early help from veteran Rudolph Eilinger to give Benguet an 11- 8 lead early. Will Kean Lee then helped to make it a made it a 20-12 before Motoclub rallied to move to a 35-32 deficit at the buzzer. Then a 20-3 second quarter Motoclub run saw the visitors take a 52-38 halftime lead Later, Cong. Eric Go Yap
scored with a 12 foot jumper on a dish by his “cousin” James to cut Motoclub’s lead to 11, 61- 72.

Kyle Naisod then cut it to 5, 70-75, from deep just a moment after he got in in the 7th minute of the third. Benguet fought to within 6, 83-91, but Alex Cabagnot drilled a twinner from five feet as the buzzer sounded ending the third and Motoclub leading 91-83. Canaleta led Motoclub with 20 points, the older de Ocampo, Yancy, had 16 including 23 rebounds, while Gary David made 15 all from the three point area and Cyrus Baguio chipped in 11. Yap led all scorers with 24, Eilinger chipped in 21, while Kim Padawag and Lee added 14 and 13 markers, respectively.

Pingris had just three points but had a near double-double with 13 boards and nine dimes. He also added three steals and three blocks. Meanwhile, Benguet edged Motoclub 36-35 in the four- men three point shootout. Kim Padawag scored 12 points to lead led Naisod, James and Kurt Tamiray in beating JJ Helterbrand, Ranidel David and Cabagnot.

LET IT BEGIN. The Motoclub and Benguet Yap team flank Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap and Gov. Melchor Diclas before the start of their showdown in the Benguet All-stars last March 1 at the Benguet Sports Complex. Motoclub beat Yap Benguet 114-103.

Pigeon Lobien