TAGAYTAY CITY — The Philippine Navy - Standard Insurance team showcased their dominance in the men's elite criterium at the PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2024, held at the Tagaytay City Atrium on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Navy trio of Jan Paul Morales, Junrey Navarro, and Ronald Oranza achieved a remarkable 1-2-3 finish in the 40-minute plus three laps event, a race that proved challenging for the competitors with only 47 of the original 71 entries crossing the finish line.
"It was tough all the way. Everyone was unrelenting, so I had to push and push so hard the entire race," said Morales, 37, reflecting on the intense competition the following day. Morales, a seasoned racer, continues to be a formidable competitor in the Philippine cycling scene, particularly at the nationals, which are presented by Standard Insurance and the MVP Sports Foundation.
The championships also saw notable victories in other categories. Jermyn Prado, a former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, secured the top spot in the women's elite category. In the junior ranks, Kim Bonilla successfully defended his title, while Angelica Mae Altamarino repeated her victory in the Under-23 category. These wins were part of a tournament supported by various sponsors including Tagaytay City, Chooks-To-Go, Excellent Noodles, CCN, and Fitbar.
The youth categories saw Yvaine Osias and Jhay Karl Nunez taking the titles for Youth 2 (under 14) and Ems Krog and Sean Andrei Gatchalian winning in Youth 1 (15-16 years old), demonstrating the depth of young talent in Philippine cycling. The event, organized by PhilCycling under the leadership of Abraham Tolentino and sanctioned by the UCI, enjoyed support from local government units in Batangas and Cavite, the Philippine National Police commands in both provinces, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
In a remarkable story of determination, Marvin Mandac from Balayan won the men's junior title on a borrowed aluminum bike, while Steven Nicolas Shane Tablizo clinched the men's Under-23 title, highlighting the competitive spirit and diverse talent present at this year's national championships.