LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Motoclub struggled early but outlasted Yap Benguet, 114-103, in the 2nd Yap Benguet All – Stars at the Benguet Sports Complex here Saturday.
It was a more competitive Yap Benguet All Star this year with James Yap and Marc Pingris reinforcing the locals.
Benguet fought to within three but Motoclub had the composure to end the host’s rally with KG Canaleta scoring the last points with a two – handed dunk.
James made it a 96-104 affair after drilling from deep as Benguet fought from a 17 – point deficit.
Motoclub coasted to the win from there.
Rudolph Eilinger gave Benguet an 11-8 lead after 2:10 of play. It was James who started rolling for the host team after a trey that bounced off the ring before sinking unlike his first attempt where the ball followed the same path, bounced off the rim then went out.
Will Kean Lee made it a 14-10 lead while Eilinger’s back – to – back trey gave Benguet its biggest lead at 20-12.
But Gary David made it just a 32-31 Benguet lead after draining one from deep, but Cong Yap’s squad had a 3-1 closing for a 35-32 lead at the buzzer of the opening canto.
Canaleta opened a 5-0 run to give the PBA Motoclub a 37-35 advantage in the second canto.
Motoclub took its biggest lead, 47-37, with an 10-0 run.
Rico Maierhofer missed a dunk that could have completed a 12-0 run and a 49-37 Motoclub advantage but Yancy de Ocampo later led another 5-0 run as Motoclub took a 52-38 lead.
Yap drained back – to – back treys, while Lee scored to cut the lead to 10.
Benguet fought to within eight, 50-58, but an 8-2 Motoclub run made it a 66-52 affair.
Bryan Gravilez hit a 15 – foot jumper to make it a 66-54 Motoclub advantage at halftime.
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 five, 70-75, from deep just a moment after he got in in the 7th minute of the third.
Benguet fought to within six, 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 as Cyrus Baguio chipped in 11.
Yap led all scorers with 24, Eilinger chipped in 21, while 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 in the three – point shootout with a four – man team total of 36 against the 35 of the visitors
Padawag led Naisod, James and Kurt Tamiray in beating JJ Helterbrand, Ranidel, David and Cabagnot. CEGYCC Release
