. . . as Pitaki Boyz dominate Bangus Fest
IT WAS the time to shine for the other members of the Pitaki Boyz team as they displayed great cohesiveness and exceptional riding skills.
The strong cycling squad from Pangasinan, renowned nationally, scored an exemplary one-to-eleven finish, dominating the Bangus Festival Cycling Challenge, a record in Philippine road racing.
Little-known Adrian Malanum of Mangaldan outsprinted his six team mates on the last 250 meters to top the event which was run in the fourth district and part of third district of Pangasinan covering a 187-kilometer flat and well-paved trail.
Malanum, 27, a 2006 Tour Pilipinas veteran, bagged the P12,000 top prize.
Ariel Flores, also from Mangaldan, the winner of the 2007 Bayambang bikefest, landed second for a P9,000 prize and San Jacinto upcoming rider Pepito Calosa checked in third for P7,000. The top three winners received trophies donated by Dagupan City Mayor Benjie S. Lim.
It was their skipper, multi-titled and international player Sherwin Carrera, who initiated a lone breakaway 26 kilometers from the start and tried hard not to be ensnared aimed to bag the title. However, the seven-man second group composed of his buddies relentlessly pursued and eventually caught up with Carrera after more than 40 kilometers.
From then, the “magnificent seven” rode together, changing the pace with each other up to the finish with Malanum getting the upperhand in the end.
The seven had an identical clocking of four hours 33 minutes 53 seconds.
Rounding up the top ten and their prizes were: Renier Clauna of Bugallon, fourth, P5,000; Ericson Obosa of Manaoag, fifth, P3,000; Reynaldo Navarro of San Jacinto, sixth; Sherwin Carrera of San Fabian, seventh; Enrique Domingo of San Carlos City, eight; Wilfredo Calosa of San Jacinto, ninth; Renato Sembrano of Mangaldan, tenth.
Sixth to tenth placers were awarded P1,500 each and fourth to tenth placers received a medal each donated by Mayor Lim.
There were 57 Filipino-American contestants who received incentive prizes.
The event was sponsored by the city government in conjunction with the celebration of the annual Bangus Festival.
The wheel-by-wheel road battle account was aired live over Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan.—JAGJr.
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