BASISTA’S cycling stalwart, Emilito Atilano, spearheaded the Pitaki Boyz’ victorious ride last week, winning two of three different big road races in the country.

Atilano, 28, a former national team member, topped the 2nd Strong Republic Nautical Highway Tour -The Oriental Mindoro Challenge held on November 14, out-sprinting breakaway cohort Dante Cagas from Manila in the last 150 meters to bag the P25,000 top prize.

Atilano’s teammate, Binalonanian Merculio Ramos Jr., crossed the finish line all by his lonesome to win the P10,000 third prize.

The 268-kilometer lung-busting road event, sponsored by the provincial tourism office of Oriental Mindoro, was participated in by 87 pro-am cyclists in the country.

Atilano proved that his victory in Mindoro was no fluke by ruling the Tagatay City Challenge, a 160-kilometer mountainous trek, two days after, pocketing the P10,000 top prize.

His teammate and 2003 Tour Pilipinas titlist Arnel Quirimit of Pozorrubio finished second to earn P8,000, while Llyod Reynante, fresh from a U.S. trip, placed third worth P6,000.

There were 98 starters in that event.

Meanwhile, in Bautista town, Bugallon’s promising rider Renier Clauna captured the limelight in Pangasinan racing by topping the ninth stage of the national criterium series on November 16 to take home the P5,000 top prize.

Mangaldanons Irish Valenzuela and Adrian Malanum came in second and third and received P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.

Reynaldo Navarro of San Jacinto and Ericson Obosa of Manaoag landed fourth and fifth, respectively, to fashion out a 1-2-3-4-5 Pitaki Boyz finish.—JAG, Jr.

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