New Mangaldan pride

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

CYCLING fans all over the country know that my town Mangaldan is a well-known producer of luminaries of the sport.

It started during my era and I’m humbled by those who say I spearhead the celebrities. The others are national Tour champions like the Cariño brothers, Samson and Ruben, Cesar Catambay, Southeast Asia Games medalists Alex Lopez and Emeterio Natavio and 2005 Tour Pilipinas “Rookie of the Year” recipient Renato Sembrano, a former RP national team member and a veteran of  Tour of Taiwan.

The latest addition to the ranks is Ariel Flores, an amateur and young rider from barangay Guesang of my town. It was in November 2005 when he emerged, surprising all by capturing the three-day Tarlac-Alaminos-Dagupan-Baguio Run. He won it convincingly by conquering the strenuous Baguio climb via Marcos Highway and humiliating his arch rivals from Manila and our neighboring provinces.

According to my record, Flores won two big races in the province last year. These were the April 6 all-amateur Bayambang bikefest and the September 15 Sta.Maria-Tayug pro-am event. Again, he won those with much to spare.

Last April 10 at Bayambang town, the fifth edition of Tour de Tercero Distrito was held and Flores successfully defended his title out-sprinting his three breakaway partners in the last 300 meters  to pocket the top prize of P6,000 plus trophy.

The annual race, a pet project of Mayor Leo “Boy” de Vera was participated in by 53 accredited amateur cyclists from Pangasinan, La Union, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. It was principally sponsored this year by well-known philanthropist Engr. Rosendo So and friends of the sports-minded Bayambang hizzoner De Vera like Cong. Amado T. Espino.

Flores, now 22, is the only son and the oldest in a brood of two of Rudy Flores and Edna Sembrano. He is one of the original and regular members of   Pangasinan’s dreaded cycling squad called “Pitaki Boyz.”

In   fact last Tuesday, these well-trained and well-funded Pitaki riders, with Jazy Sportswear as their main benefactor, scored a stunning and astonishing 1-2-3-4 victory. It was the second time they recorded such an impressive finish since their group was formed more than two years ago.

Sta. Barbara ace Loreto dela Carsel came in close second to bag P4,000 plus trophy and Mangaldanon Adrian Malanum checked in third for P3,000 and likewise with trophy.

Rex Carino, also from Mangaldan, landed in fourth place worth P2,000 and Bugallon son Allan Patrick Garcia placed fifth good for P1,000.

Their boss, my only cycling son Jazy, checked in sixth and San Fabian’s 18-year old Bernard Biasura, also a Pitaki member, placed ninth worth P500 each. The top ten finishers also received a medal each.

This Pitaki quartet also dominated three summit prizes worth P3,000 donated by my pals Houston, Texas-based Blandino Caguioa, formerly from barangay Manzon, San Carlos City and Mapandan born Rey Corpuz, now a resident of Honolulu, Hawaii.

The prizes, trophies and medals were awarded by Mayor de Vera’s brother Butch and relative Amori Junio. It was held at the spacious Bayambang town plaza.

Flores has been a perennial top ten finisher since joining the races that I have been directing. The way I see it, this means that a star has been born and this new pride of Mangaldan town is a champion in the making for national multi-stage racings. I hope and wish his proper regimen continues for his bigger races in the future.

That race last Tuesday was the 136th under my directorship that started on March 14, 1974, including one at Guam.

We, the organizers, decided to hold it exclusively for amateurs-like what we did last year-to give a chance to the young ones and to scout new talents in this sport.

I believe that we are on the right track. 

The next race that I will conduct will be on April 22 to be held at Asingan

       See you there.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/)

 

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