Monday, August 27, 2012

BROTHERLY BOOST

 
Published in Sun Star Newspaper on August 27, 2012 Monday issue
by Marian C. Baring, Staff Writer
Mike Limpag, Sports Editor
 
 
... Meanwhile, another athlete who aims more than just a gold medal is IloIlo’s golden girl Joneza Mie Sustituedo, who claimed her second gold yesterday in the 800-meter run in 2:29.07.

Sustituedo’s time may not be her best and she blames her spike shoes for it.

“Nag pa- paa lang kasi ako nuon. Ngayon kailangan na magspike shoes. Kailangan pa mag adjust,” said Sustituedo, who holds Palarong Pambansa record and has represented the country in the Asean School Games in Indonesia.

The achiever that she is, the youngster from Iloilo is not contented in resting on her laurels. She still has one more event today. Late yesterday, she approached an official and asked for the standing record in the 3,000-meter run--her last and final event.

“Sana ma break ko yung record,” said Sustituedo... Read more

Sunday, August 26, 2012

ILONGO ATHLETES SPRING SURPRISE, LEADS DAY 1 OF MILO VISAYAS

 
Published in The Freeman Newspaper on August 26, 2012 Sunday issue
by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol, Staff Writer
Manny Villaruel, Sports Editor
 
 
The 17-year-old Catalbas, competing under the banner of Iloilo National High School, claimed the first gold at stake in athletics after dominating the secondary boys 5,000m run with the time of 17 minutes and 53.16 seconds.

Prince Joey Lee of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation settled for silver in 18:00.66, while UC's Rozel Ardiente got the bronze with a 18:32.41 clocking.

After a much-needed rest, Catalbas sealed his day with another gold via the 1,500m run. He did not have a flashy start but he knew when to pull it away, speeding up in the last two laps to eventually overtake USPF's John Cliff Debulosan in the final five meters.

Catalbas to win the battle with the time of four minutes and 23.92 seconds, just four-tenths of a second ahead of Debulosan, while another USPF long distance runner Joel Andrin wound up third with a 4:34.84 clocking.

Two other Ilonggos stole the show from the Cebuano tracksters, with Janeza Mae Sastituedo and Lanz Jeremy Halongong basking in the glow of golden performances.
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Sastituedo topped the secondary girls 1,500m run with the time of 5:07.32. Lovely Fe Andrin of Pajo NHS placed second in 5:12.35 followed by USPF’s Crizel Diongson in 5:20.48... Read more

VISITORS RULE DAY 1

 
Published in Sun Star Newspaper on August 26, 2012 Sunday issue
by Marian C. Baring, Staff Writer
Mike Limpag, Sports Editor
 
 
AT FIRST glance, no one would bother giving her much of a care. She was, after all, the smallest girl at the starting line of the 1,500-meter run. Her pigtails did not help make her look more menacing either.

But among her peers, Joneza Mie Sustituedo, the diminutive runner from Iloilo, was the one they were gauging their runs against yesterday in the athletics event of the Milo Little Olympics.

A multiple record breaker of the Palarong Pambansa, Sustituedo zoomed out of the pack and left everyone eating her dust bent on her target of making a record in the Milo Little Olympics in her first attempt.

“Andito po ako para makagawa ng record. First time ko po kasi sa Milo Little Olympics. Sana maka record ako,” said the 10-year-old from Iloilo National High School (INHS).

Sustituedo holds the record in the 3,000-meter run and the 800-meter run in the Palarong Pambansa. When she was still in the elementary division, she broke a record in the 1,500-meter run in 2009 and broke it again in 2010.

Yesterday, she won the 1,500m run and crossed the finish almost uncontested, posting five minutes and 7.32 seconds for a good five-second lead over Pajo National High School’s Lovely Fe Andrin.
 
Crizel Diongson of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation came in third at 5:20:48.

Organizers of the Milo Little Olympics have been raring to get the athletics powerhouse Iloilo to join the regional eliminations.

“We wanted our athletes to gauge themselves against some really tough opponents. Sometimes, if they get no challenge, they resign to working hard at a level that is mediocre,” said Ricky Ballesteros.

Ballesteros said they managed to convince Iloilo to join the event after promising to help with their expenses.

“I told them na ilaha lang ang plete and kami na bahala sa food and accommodation nila,” he said.

It may be a huge pressure for the Iloilo squad. They did not disappoint... Read more

ARMSTRONG'S FALL IS MIND-BOGGLING

Phil Daily Inquirer.  Then, a few minutes later, he was off, literally like a rocket, leaving rivals for dead and making the towering Mont Ventoux look like little more than a speed bump.

The physical strength he showed that July 13 at the 2000 Tour was mind-boggling. And there were so many other equally mind-boggling moments in the other six Tours he won... Read more

SOFIA'S CHOICE: IT'S TRIATHLON OVER CANCER FOR SPUNKY GIRL, 9

Phil Daily Inquirer.  Danny always has in mind two snapshots of his daughter. The first is of the six-year-old Sofia, hair torched, teeth crooked and nails blackened by chemotherapy. She is wearing a face mask as he lifts her up during one PBA championship celebration. The other is of the nine-year-old Sofia in full battle gear, closing in on the finish line in an Ironkids race in Cebu... Read more

Friday, August 24, 2012

IGI NAKAGUKOD SA 3RD PLACE

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Published in Super Balita Newspaper on August 24, 2012 Friday issue
by Jun Migallen, Sports Editor


Bisan pa man og nabiyaan sa puntos human wa makaapil sa unang leg, apan ang Sugbuanong 17 anyos nga si Miguel "Igimax" Maximo nakamaniho gihapon sa pagpatong sa 3rd place sa over all standing human sa ikatulong legs sa men's 16-19 division sa Powerade Philippine Duathlon Series sa niaging Domingo didto sa Sta. Elena City, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Ang mga partisipante sa maong kompetisyon motadlas og 7-km nga dagan, 35-km nga biseklita ug 3.5km nga dagan na sab.

"It's not easy to compete for s series event because you lose points if you miss a leg," matod ni Igi kinsa miyembro sa PHL Natl Junior Cycling team.

Tungod sa kataas sa biyahe ug ingon man sa logistic support, si Igimax wa makaapil sa first leg apan nakabawi kini sa niaging duha ka legs.

"I hope to complete the 4th and final leg this October and maintain my standing.  It's tough but I always look forward representing Cebu in a national race," niya pa.

Sa niaging Domingo, si Igimax mitadlas sa finishing line sa oras nga 31:54 minuto sa unang dagan, 1:03:24 nga biseklita ug 20:32 minutos nga dagan. JBM

MAXIMO BAGS THIRD PLACE IN POWERADE DUATHLON

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Published in Sun Star Newspaper on August 24, 2012 Friday issue
by Iste S. Leopoldo, Staff Writer
Mike Limpag, Sports Editor


CEBU’s Luis Miguel “Igimax” Maximo secured the third over-all spot of the men’s 16-19 age group of the Powerade Philippine Duathlon Series last Aug. 19 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The 17-year-old Maximo completed a grueling seven-kilometer run, 35-km bike and 3.5-km run in one hour and 56 minutes.

“It’s not easy to compete for a series event because you lose points if you miss a leg,” said Maximo, a PHL junior national cycling team member.

Due to the demands of travel and logistical support, Maximo missed the first leg but was able to make it up in the next two legs.

“I hope to complete the fourth and final leg this October and maintain my standing. It’s tough but I always look forward to represent Cebu in a national race,” said two-time SAC awardee Maximo.

The race attracted about 500 duathletes and was considered the biggest national duathlon competition in the country.

“My run has improved since I trained with coach Mick Perez. But it is still in the bike leg that I am able can catch up with the others,” said Maximo, who was the Asian Junior Cycling PHL representative before taking up duathlon just last May.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on August 24, 2012.

Monday, August 13, 2012

THE OLYMPICS: HOPE TAKES WORK

Manila Bulletin.  Hope takes work. Let’s face it, the physical and mental preparation of our athletes are hardly commensurate with the hopes they cherish. While our Asian neighbors have set up world-class sporting infrastructures, many of our training facilities are in a pitiable condition. Some sports depend only on private sponsorship in order to survive. The training of some athletes is even financed by their own parents or private sponsors. Some grew up in the United States, trained there, and would later compete under the Philippine flag – at very little expense from our government. While other Asian governments have set up monolithic sports bodies to supervise the training of their athletes, our national sports agencies are saddled with power struggles and political intrigues. Rather than concentrate on their training, athletes are torn between divided loyalties... Read more

Saturday, August 11, 2012

HOW CORPORATIONS SPONSOR OLYMPIC ATHLETES

The Fiscal Times.  In choosing a spokesperson, companies look at the athlete's name recognition, likability, image, personal story and sex appeal. "Companies are looking for a showman," notes Anthony Fernandez, a Florida-based branding consultant who specializes in professional athletes. "They're looking for someone who is passionate, who can entertain, who can bring folks to their feet. A lot comes down to personality."... Read more

Thursday, August 09, 2012

ANALYSIS: TROUBLED NSAs STYMIE PROGRESS OF PHL SPORTS

PhilStar.  One of the most telling blows to Philippine sports was dealt by the cycling association. The association had two presidents between 2005 and 2011. One “rebel” group had as many as five who, unable to find a way out of the crisis, stumbled over one another in their haste to resign. The infighting reached a point when the cyclists of the rebel group were not allowed to compete in the tournament of the other.

Since the national trials were conducted by the POC-accredited NSA, other cyclists, who were actually licensed professionals and more qualified, did not participate. In the SEA Games, the POC amateur cyclists were in turn not allowed by the International Cycling Federation to participate because they lacked a license.

Coming back home, both presidents conducted their own separate tournament to determine players for their next international competitions. They scheduled them on the same day. Again cyclists were made to choose, between a UCI (international cycling federation)-sanctioned tournament that would earn them a license and UCI points to see action in professional competitions abroad in the future and a tournament where the qualifiers will get allowances as POC accredited amateur athletes... Read more

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

TRI, WHY NOT?

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Published in The Freeman Newspaper on August 8, 2012 Wednesday issue
by Ana Patricia "Ica" Maximo, Contributor
Emmanuel V. Villaruel, Sports Editor


CEBU, Philippines - Crossing the finish line has always been every athlete's dream. I had finally accomplished my dream last Saturday and it was priceless.

Finishing the Alaska IronKids Triathlon 2012 really meant something big to me. It was really an amazing opportunity for me to join an international competition and I was lucky to be part of it. We had to swim 300 meters in the open sea, bike for 10 km around Punta Engaño and run 2 km inside Shangrila Mactan Beach Resort non-stop! Being a triathlete is no joke. But when you enjoy doing it, it can be a lot easier.

Ever since school started this year, being a Grade 7 student of Sacred Heart School- Hijas de Jesus has been hard because I had to balance my time for both my studies and training with swimming, cycling and running. But with the support of my school, I was able to find more time to practice my sport.

The most important people that have always been there for me in good and in bad times, support me in my decisions, and will always love me no matter what will happen, are my parents, Maxi and Sheila. I would never be able to survive without them and of course to my bike guru YKK, coaches Tito, Ronald, and Sherwin as well as Mdm. Balicoco and my teachers including Mr. Trani. I am very blessed to have such supportive parents, coaches and teachers to help me improve my sport and studies.

Aside from sweating it out with triathlon, the experience has also taught me values like friendship. I got to meet other triathletes from other countries the same age as I am that came from other places and have realized that this competition was their first time to swim in the open sea.

Discipline and commitment were also the other values that were instilled in me. When you practice the value of discipline, you will surely accomplish what you would want to achieve. These are the important values that we should always keep in mind.

I would like to encourage my classmates and friends to try out this sport aside from being in the computer for hours. We should have a healthy lifestyle so that we could enjoy and be active even though we would already be at our 80's or 90's. So I challenge all of you to be part of any sport that you would always enjoy and have fun.

Oh! I can't wait for my next event. (FREEMAN)

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

ENTHUSIASTS ASSERT CYCLING IS STILL A SAFE SPORT


Published in Sun Star Newspaper on August 6, 2012 Monday issue
by Cheska D. Geli, Staff Writer
Mike Limpag, Sports Editor


CYCLING enthusiasts hope that the unfortunate incident in the Cobra Ironman Triathlon won’t spur fear among fans of the sport.

Although the local cycling and triathlon community are grieving the death of relay participant Ramon Igaña Jr., they hope that it won’t make the public think that cycling is a dangerous sport.

An autopsy released by organizers revealed that Igaña had an acute pulmonary embolism, which caused him to lose control.

“I beg to disagree with some stating that uneven roads at the SRP had anything to do with the accident,” said Ironman local coordinator Oscar Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said that the incident will make athletes more wary about their conditioning, training and probably experience in the different challenges offered by sporting competitions and cited the case of Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

“Although he had a serious accident that could have cost his life a few months back, he chose to race again in Cebu. If I want a race without challenges, then I should ride an indoor bike or run on a treadmill but then again, I could die of a heart attack if I over exert myself,” said Rodriguez.

Jonathan Maximo, father of junior cyclist Igi Maximo, also said that from the narration of the marshal who saw Igaña go pale, it wasn’t the road conditions that caused it.

“It was his body failing on him, not due to his bike handling skills or the conditions of the road kay walay maayong siklista kung ang imong gibati mao na to,” said Maximo.

Maximo had known Igaña since their high school days and he knows that he had prepared for the event.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on August 06, 2012.

Friday, August 03, 2012

CEBU'S YOUNG TRIATHLETES READY FOR IRONKIDS


Published in Sun Star Newspaper on August 3, 2012 Friday issue
by Iste S. Leopoldo, Staff Writer
Mike Limpag, Sports Editor

SOME of Cebu’s young triathletes are geared up for this Saturday’s Alaska Ironkids Triathlon at the Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa.

This will be a tough race for the young participants because this will be the first time that the swim leg will be held in open water.

“For several years, the swim leg was just held in a pool. Nindot siya mintras bata pa sila, they start competing in an open water aron maanad na sila when the time comes when they compete in the Ironman. However, for kids they won’t be far from the shore because safety is our main concern,” Cebu coordinator Oscar Rodriguez said.

Alaska IronKids is the junior counterpart of the world-renowned triathlon event IronMan.

Cebu will be banking on Triathlon Association of the Philippines (Trap) developmental team members Yuan and Justin Chiongbian and Nina Francesca Villaba along with Shaia Ruth Uy, Jezreel Tan, John Tan, Ana Patricia “Ica” Maximo, Aaliyah Matarugnon. The youngest participant is six-year-old Mikele Jopson, the daughter of veteran triathletes Noy and Amale.

According to Milette, Yuan and Justin’s mother, her sons are ready to compete against easoned young triathletes in the country.

“Yuan and Justin are very excited to race, though, anxious and hoping there won’t be mechanical problems in the bike like a flat. They also aim to beat their personal best and be mature in this sport,” Millete said.

On the other hand, 12-year-old Matarugnon of Sacred Heart School-Hijas, who just joined triathlon this year and topped the 11-12 years age group of the National Age Group Triathlon (Nagt) race, is doing minimal training for this week and as well as schoolmate Ica Maximo.

Maximo took the 13-14 age group title in the Talisay Triathlon and in the Congressman Red Triathlon Leg 1.

Mikele Jopson is also eyeing another podium finish after winning first place in the NAGT supertrikids and second in the Moonyeen Durano Triathlon Cup supertrikids.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on August 03, 2012.