13 P’sinan cyclists in 2018 Ronda bikefest

 

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

THE 2018 Ronda Pilipinas multi-stage bikathon qualifying race on September 30 saw the participation of almost 300 cyclists from all over the country in the 183-kilometer road saga that started and finished in Tarlac City.
I was not there but I was informed that 10 of our kabaleyans succeeded to qualify in 2018 edition of Ronda Pilipinas. Yes, I was happy to learn that two of my town mates, the brothers Joshua and Daniel Ven Carino of Barangay Landas ruled the event. In fact, three of our local bets came in a 1-2-3 fashion finish with Tour veteran Ronald Oranza of Villasis finishing third. It was the first time in Ronda cycling qualifying race to see three Pangasinan riders at the helm.

I was amazed by the performance of my godson (wedding) the aging and the only four-time Tour champion in the country Santy Barnachea of Umingan who still managed to finish ninth after two years of retirement.

Barnachea, 41, was our last national champion to win the Ronda and that was in 2015.

Aside from the seeded riders mostly members of our national squad, thirty-eight qualified for next year’s Ronda tentatively scheduled to kick off on April 6.  Fortunately, we have thirteen of our local pedal pushers that will see action in the 14-day bikathon. Joining the road fray that passed the September 30 test are Warren Bordeos of Laoac, Alfie Catalan and Dennis Gabaldon of San Manuel, Sherwin Carrera of San Fabian, Jefferson Valdez of Asingan, Jay Lampawog of Villasis, Patrick Pablo of Umingan and Tarlac born longtime Binalonan resident my other wedding godson Merculio Ramos, Jr.
Good luck to all of you guys and bring home the bacon next year.

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Our national sports leaders are roused from their sleep after our dismal performance in the recent Kuala Lumpur SEA Games bagging only 24 gold medals. A far cry from 50 that was predicted by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Joe “Peping” Cojuangco and POC board member Cynthia Carrion of the Gymnastics Associations of the Philippines. The POC, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) and our 18 NSAs (National Sports Associations) convened last October 3 to identify the grey areas in Philippine sports and to find solutions to our perennial debacle in all International Olympic Committee-sanctioned multiple games like the SEA, Asia, Olympic and World tilts. The PSI that handles the training of our nationals and PSC that handles the funding want to know from our NSAs if the state financial support for our nationals was used judiciously and proceeded to set the targets and agenda for sports development especially for the 2019 SEA Games to be hosted by our country.

Some of the sports leaders also raised the issue of age limit for POC officials who can run for election and subsequently decided to amend the POC By-Laws. I guess the age issue was raised on account of septuagenarian Cojuangco who many agree is already too old for the position. Obviously, they wanted to send the message that he should resign or face possible expulsion thru a call for a vote of no-confidence.

This is a great a move for our younger and aggressive national sports leaders. We have long been suffering from ineffective leadership. The 2017 SEA Games is a good wake-up call.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. EPHESIANS 5: 22-23

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