Congrats

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

Every two years the Southeast Asia Games is held and always on the month of December.

This year it was conducted on December 5-16 in Thailand.

Like in the 2005 games, which our country hosted, two of our Pangasinan cyclists that represented our country topped again their respective specialty events to win the gold medals.

I doff my hat to this duo. We have to be proud of them because they brought honor not only to our country but also to our province and their towns where they came from.

 First is Alfie Catalan of San Manuel town defending his 2005 gold medal victory in the individual pursuit velodrome race. The 24-year old 5’11” track specialist bested nine other opponents to remain supreme in his forte. He also won silver in the team pursuit race.

Malasiqui lass Marites Bitbit follows, winning the 116 kilometers individual road battle that stunned the entire field especially, the Thais.

Bitbit, 28, also won two bronzes, the cross-country mountain bike event and the 30-kilometer individual time trial.

Her dad Bienvenido is from Sta. Rita, Samar while her mother is the former Imelda Ballesteros Sotto from barangay Lunec, Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

Mabuhay  kayong dalawa! 

In the provincial front, congrats to all the winners of last Sunday’s race that was participated in exclusively by 80 Pangasinan pedal-pushers. Dubbed as the “RD Gen. Bataoil – Garcia Cup” with the theme “Siklista Kontra Sa Droga,” the 136-kilometer road battle would not have been successful without the assistance of prominent people in the province.  (See related story on this page.)

Principally sponsored by PNP Region 1 Director  Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, the other main backers were Gov. Amado Espino, Jr., UPang Chairman of the Board Cesar Duque, Mangaldan Mayor Herminio Romero, 2 nd  Engineering District Director Rodolfo “Boy” Dion, Atty./Sr. Supt. Isagani  Nerez, Felipe Movida, Jr., 4th District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario and Rey Corpuz.

In the local scene, kudos to the Mangaldan LGU 2 basketball team of veem Pedro Surdilla, Jr. for winning the championship game of the 2nd Mayor’s Cup, trouncing the LGU 1 squad of hizzoner Romero, 70-65.

Mayor Romero said he initiated the two-month long hoopfest for Mangaldan employees only because he believes that  indulging  in sports is the best if not the main way to be healthy in heart and in mind, especially for those aging municipal workers.

Congrats also to my cumpadre barangay captain (Buenlag, Mangaldan) Melchor de Guzman for capturing the presidency of the Association of Barangay Captains of my town Mangaldan.

De Guzman used to be a basketball player during our younger days. His daughter Patricia is also the new Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson of my village Buenlag.

More power to you all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

(Readers may reach columnist at biking.jess@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/
For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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