RONALD ORANZA and Kate Jasmin Velasco shared the limelight last Sunday as Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance dominated the PhilCycling National Trials for Road at the Clark Freeport Zone.
Oranza topped the men’s road race while Velasco bagged her second gold medal in the two-day trials presented by Standard Insurance, Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, Bases Conversion Development Authority and Clark Development Corp.
Oranza, from Villasis, Pangasinan, led a 1-2-3 finish by the Navymen in the 147.6-km road race that started and ended at the Clark Parade Grounds. He clocked three hours, 18 minutes and 25.80 seconds, with George Oconer settling for second in 3:18:32.15 and Ronald Lomotos third in 3:18:35.23.
“We did our best to protect each other throughout the race,” Oranza, 28, said “And we managed to book a 1-2-3 finish.
“I am praying these trials will mark the return of cycling events all over the country,” added Oranza, one of several national team mainstays whose performance was evaluated in the trials supported by Go for Gold, Chooks-to-Go, GAC Motor, Gatorade, Versa, 7-Eleven, Le Tour de Filipinas, 7-Eleven, UBE Express Inc., Powerade, Wilkins, Coca-Cola, Shimano, Bike-X and MadCrank.
Velasco, winner of the individual time trial last Saturday, clocked 2:15:17.62 to rule the 80.70-km race, with teammate Mathilda Krogg finishing third in 2:15:19.75.
Avegail Rombaon, switching her MTB with a road bike, broke the Navy domination by outsprinting Krogg in the final 50 meters to finish second, crossing the line 1.76 seconds behind Velasco.
“I never expected to win the road race. But I got the opportunity, so we didn’t let that slip away,” Velasco, of nearby Floridablanca in Pampanga, said. “This title is very important to us, and we dedicate this to our sponsors.”
The event marked the return of races under the PhilCycling leadership of Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, also the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
