Davao City riders salvage 3 bronzes

CEBU CITY - Davao City riders failed to clinch a gold medal but settled for three bronzes at the start of the Philippine National Games (PNG) 2018 cycling competition in Danao City, Cebu Province Sunday, May 20.

Dabawenyo Orlando Sabijon timed 47 minutes and three seconds to finish third in junior men's mountainbike cross country Olympics event, a 15-kilometer race, that was topped by Marikina City's Jericho Rivera (40:57). The silver went to Anarciso Gilbert of Butuan City (46:21).

The 18-year-old Sabijon, a Grade 11 student of Calinan National High School, said he, Rivera and Gilbert were in a tight race from the start.

"Nabyaan ko sa last 100 meters (I was left behind in the final 100 meters)," Sabijon told Sun.Star Davao, saying that he had difficulty in the downhill part of the course.

Sabijon, a Batang Pinoy Nationals 2016 gold medalist in road bike and bronze winner in mountain bike, added, "Karon ra ko ka-experience sa downhill naglisod ko og adjust (It was my first time to compete with a downhill portion, I had a hard time adjusting)."

He, however, vowed to do even better in his remaining events in road bike - 47K, criterium race and individual time trial.

"Pangarap jud nako ang gold (I really dream of winning a gold)," he said.

The Acedo sisters, Angelica and Myra Regina, also pocketed bronzes. Angelica placed third in senior women elite cross country mountain bike 20K event while Myra was third in junior women cross country mountain bike 10K race.

Angelica, 19, who is making her PNG debut here just like Sabijon and her younger sister, said she hopes to also win medals in road bike events that she will be joining.