Team Paseo de Loon sweeps

Antequera Offroad Duathlon 

ANTEQUERA, Bohol March 18 (PIA)—It was well a 1-2-3 sweep for Team Paseo de Loon, whose members huddled ahead of the pack to claim the top three podium posts during the recently concluded Antequera Offroad Duathlon 2018 March 18. 

Paseo de Loon, an elite team of swim-bike-run aces spruced up by a Philippine team seeded duathlete Emmanuel Commendador dominated the event participated in by a hundred beginner and professional athletes proving their mint in the sweltering race that included 5 kilometer run, 25 kilometer offroad bike and 3 kilometer run before crossing the finish line. 

Antequera Duathlon organizer Vice Mayor Simon Leo Jadulco described the route as exciting and showcases the best of his town which is better known as the basket capital of the Philippines. 

Commendador crossed the finish line without much of a sweat at 1 hour and 46 minutes; a good two minutes ahead of team mate Jonathan Pagaura, who also blasted through the arch tailed by another team-mate Adelino Ortillano at 1:58 in a classic team sweep finish. 

It could have been a slightly different finish, had a tough contender in Victor Bioncog been able to completely join the race after meeting a bike tire handicap. 

Race witnesses reported a Biongcog solo breakaway at the beginning of the bike segment after a manageable 5K run. 

By the time Bioncog emerged from the offroad bike segment, Commendador and several contenders have taken the opportunity to catch up while the ace biker has to half-walk-half run his bike, cleat shoes swinging by his bike’s handlebars, 3 kilometers towards the final 3 kilometer run to the finish line. 

Commendador, who claims to be also from Dagohoy, leads his Paseo team in nailing other categories including Roger Torreon of Dagohoy in the 40-49 age group finishing at 2 hours and 4 minutes. 

In the relay, Team Paseo de Loon with Ernesto Garcia and Christian Baquero broke the finish line at 1:48. 

Antequera Offroad Duathlon, one of the 142nd Antequera Foundation Days highlights, opened up races for 29 and below, 50 years old and above, 40-49 years old, female 36-39, female 31 to 35, male 30-39 years old, and each for male and female relays. 

In the 29 years old and below, Neil Arado came first with 2 hours and 4 minutes, followed by Ronie Jorigue at 2:07; and Leonides Sollegue Jr., completing the podium arriving at the finish arch at 2:09. 

In the 30-39 years old age group, triathlete Jeffrey Real clocked in at 2:21, followed by Ewelito dela Torre at 2:22 and Paul Mesagrande came in third at 2:24, two minutes later. 

In the 40-49 age group, Rogelio Torreon crossed the victory line at 2:04, followed by Glenn Flores at 2:19 and Nerio Zamora at 2:20. 

For the golden category of 50 and above, Alberto Taga-amo crossed first at 2:38 while at his heels came Emie Gopo at 2:40 and Godofredo Albuladura at 2:54. 

In the female 35 years below, Lyzle Hermoso clocked the best time at 3:01 while Emmylou Fuertes came next at 4:02. 

For the female 35 years and above, Marisyl Maristela came in at 3:45,followed by Ella Marie Pocot at 4:17. 

At the male relay, Paseo de Loon topped with Ernesto Garcia and Christian Baquero finishing the 33 kilometer run-bike run with official time of 1:48 while Joseph baldon Jr., and Julius Abay-abay pair clocked in at 1:55. Following them were the team of Albino Vinas and Jonathan Viel Lumay at 2:00. 

In the female relay, the pair of Caeczarina Mae Idul and Elma Lumanas clocked at 4:02. 

The Antequera Offroad Duathlon is the latest in Bohol’s assertion as a veritable sports tourism destination, as the majority of the 100 runners completed the race and received finishers’ medals while crossing the finish line below the cut-off time of 7 hours. 

The Antequera trails proved to be enough of a grueling challenge to test the basic and the technical skills of professional bikers who have chosen an entirely different way of de-stressing. 

At least three athletes: two from Antequera and one from outside had mechanical problems with their bikes, mostly flat tires or chain breaks during assaults. 

Another biker too could not continue with the race due to a crash. 

But during the awarding ceremonies, in the real atmosphere of sports brotherhood, although the sore was visible among those who took the podium, the sense of accomplishment pervaded. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Team Paseo de Loon with then mayor Cecilia Rebosura-Salomon during the podium honors of the recent Antequera Offroad Duathlon 2018. (LGUAntequera)