HOLDING a popcorn and soft drinks in his right hand, MPT Drivehub standout Jonel Carcueva gamely relished his bid in the recently concluded MPTC Tour of Luzon last week.
After a third-place finish in the overall general classification, Carcueva is convinced he can only get better.
“Kumbaga mas grabe iyong experience ko ngayon kasi nga siyempre hindi ko ini-expect na makukuha ko iyong third place sa major competition,” Carcueva said on the sidelines of his team’s trip to watch and support NLEX’s duel with Ginebra in the PBA Philippine Cup last Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
“Tapos nag-champion po kami sa team kaya ang laking gulat ko sa nagawa kong achievement,” he added.
Carcueva, who will turn 30 on May 23, was 52 seconds behind champion Dae Yeong Joo of the Gapyeong Cycling Team in the eight-stage, 1,074.90-km race dubbed the “Great Revival.”
The Minglanilla, Cebu-born rider admitted Joo’s ploy worked to perfection in ruling the return of the storied summer cycling spectacle.
“Iyong Korean po kasi sprint po iyong kinuha niya po, kumbaga iyong pagkuha ng sprint, tinuloy niya po. Ang sa atin naman pong mga Filipino, pagkatapos ng sprint kumbaga naghihintuan,” Carcueva said.
“Iyong mga foreigner po kasi kapag mag-sprint, dire-diretso na po iyon. Iyon ang advantage po ng mga foreigner sa atin, iyon ang wala sa atin.”
Carcueva, who looks up to veteran Jan Paul Morales and MPT Drivehub coach and bemedalled cyclist Santy Barnachea, vowed to win it all next year.
“Mas do-doblehin ko pa po iyong ensayo,” he said. “Maganda po ito sa akin para sa exposure.
“Sa next na laro ko po, kapag nakalaban ko po iyong mga nakalaban ko sa Tour of Luzon alam ko na po kung ano ang gagawin ko na mga crucial, sa next na laro ‘yun na po iyong gagawin namin.”
Who knows, next year Carcueva may not only hold a popcorn and soft drinks but also the shiny and massive championship trophy.
