MANILA, 29 November 2002 — Multititled rider Ernie Leongson captured the premier Pro Open title of the Superferry National Motocross Super Series 2002 at the PAMRI Racetracks, Army Adventure Zone in Taguig.
With the Pro Open (Rider of the Year) title safely trucked under his belt even before the starting gun, the Shell-Yamaha rider simply enjoyed every minute of the series’ finals leg of the Pro Open, where he emerged second to leg winner Glenn Aguilar of Caltex-Revtex, KTM.
Interestingly, Leongson was meanest in the Pro 125 division, which he topped, ahead of eventual champion Jovie Saulog, a teammate.
Providing stiffest competition to Leongson was his fierce rival Aguilar, who unleashed everything in his arsenal en route to the Pro Open leg win to end an up-and-down season with a bang.
Seventh-leg winners aside from Leongson and Aguilar are Kenneth San Andres (Mini Class), Donark Yuson (Power Enduro), James Wilson (Kids 9), RC Galvez (Kids 7), Joebanie Leyva (Expert), Ted Conde (Open Prod.), Bong Miravalles (Dual Sport Enduro), Roman Llorente (Exec. Open) and Barbosa (Beginner Prod.).
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Victorino beats Abadia, bags PCA crown
Third-seeded Joseph Victorino came through in the deciding fifth set to clinch his first PCA Open men’s singles title at the PCA indoor shellcourt.
Victorino, who booted out top seed Johnny Arcilla in the semifinals, kept his composure to beat second seed and fellow Davis Cupper Adelo Abadia 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 in three hours, 45 minutes.
“I stayed focused and patient. I adjusted to his drop shots,” said the 19-year-old Victorino, who is now the country’s No. 1 player after earning 600 points. He received the champion’s purse worth 80,000 pesos while Abadia got 40,000 pesos.
Earlier, top seed Czarina Mae Arevalo, banking on a steady baseline game, defeated fourth seed Korean Lee Min-Hee 6-1, 6-4, to win the women’s singles title.
Arevalo, a 17-year-old high school senior at Angelicum College, received a total of 39,000 pesos in cash, including 9,000 pesos from her doubles title victory. Arevalo and Rina Caniza won over former Fed Cup mainstay DJ Suarez and soft tennis national player Petrona Bantay 6-2, 6-1.
Top seeds Johnny Arcilla and Michael Mora III retained the men’s doubles title following a 6-3, 6-2 victory over third seeds Virgilio Sison and Junjun Toledo. Arcilla and Mora shared the 18,000 pesos top purse.
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Younger Pacquiao keeps title
With his elder brother watching, Bobby Pacquiao displayed the courage and fighting heart of a true champion to beat former featherweight champion Baby Lorona Jr. and retain his Philippine super featherweight title at the Casino Filipino in Parañaque.
The fight was action-packed from start to finish, with Pacquiao, 22, and Lorona, 25, engaging in furious exchanges throughout the 12-round match. Lorona seemed unfazed by the punching power of Pacquiao was often on the receiving end of some superb combinations.
The scorecards did not reflect the closeness of the bout, especially in the final round when Pacquiao got too cocky and absorbed a combination that staggered him.
Capt. Ramon Flores scored it 114-112 while Narciso Martinez and Chris Odullo saw it 116-112 and 117-111, respectively.
Pacquiao, booted by the presence of International Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion and elder brother Manny at ringside, improved his record to 20-8-2 with 11 knockouts. Lorona absorbed his 17th defeat against 32 wins and three draws, with 16 KO’s.
The younger Pacquiao won the crown with a spectacular 11th round technical knockout win over Renato Inal last June 15.
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Sports heroines stress importance of trying
Lydia de Vega Mercado, Olivia “Bong” Coo and Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, all sports heroines, encouraged participants in the 1st Philippine Congress on Women and Sports in Tagaytay to never give up trying despite setbacks.
The three were mobbed by participants in the four-day seminar at the international convention center here when they spoke on their defeats and triumphs.
De Vega-Mercado, now a councilor in her hometown of Meycauayan, Bulacan, said the defeats she suffered in her career only prodded her to strive harder.
The two-time Asian Games sprint queen (1982 New Delhi and 1986 Seoul) said the experience she gained in sports helped her make the transition to politics.
Coo, a bowling Hall of Famer who is now a successful businesswoman, told the audience: “Aspire to master focus and precision. I am applying in my business what I have learned from my sports experience. Never say no, don’t retreat and keep on trying.”
Coo said she has had her share of disappointments in life but added that in sports as in business, things don’t really come as expected.
Mikee, for her part, said her new found inspiration and full trust in God has served her in good stead.
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Reynante triumphs in cycling
Lloyd Reynante, riding like his illustrious father Manuel, topped the Tour Pilipinas 2003 second pre-qualifying race also highlighted by the national cyclists getting the go-signal to participate in the race.
But if Reynante’s awesome time of 53 minutes and 58.41 seconds over the 40-km out-and-back course in Bgy. Malaya, Pililla, Rizal, appeared unbeatable in the three-part pre-qualifyings of the Tour Pilipinas 2003 Air 21 is presenting next summer, it wasn’t the weekend’s only highlight.
Relentless efforts by Eric Buhain, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) which shares custody with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) over the national riders, has resulted to Reynante and his fellow nationals being able to participate in the Tour Pilipinas 2003 qualifying stages. The national cyclists have become pawns in the leadership intramurals at the national sports association for cycling.
National team coach Jomel Lorenzo acceded to positive guarantees secured by Buhain from Tour organizers about the nationals’ plight in the Tour and the result yielded a spirited national cycling team that went on to book a 1-2 finish in the race, with another making the top five.
Warren Davadilla, the 1998 Centennial Tour champion, pedaled almost a shade below the 24-year-old Reynante’s 44.66 kph conquest of Pililla to finish second at 56:36.51.
At third was Pangasinense Felix Celeste, the Tour veteran who flew in just recently from Italy where he is now based with his wife, at 57:06.61.
Behind him at fourth was another national rider but a natural mountain biker under Oscar Rodriguez Jr., Eusebio Quionones (57:12.15).
The old guards finished strongly with Placido Valdez coming in fifth (57:16.34), former two-time champion Renato Dolosa seventh-behind sixth-placer Rhyan Tanguilig (57:55.21)-at 58:00.46 and formr back-to-back champion Carlo Guieb 10th at 58:35.97.
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Aguilar, De la Cruz top motocross tilt in Tagum
Daredevil riders Glenn Aguilar and Bebet dela Cruz once again stamped their class against a powerhouse field as the duo gave Caltex-Revtex-KTM a 1-2 finish in the 1st Diocesan Clergy of Tagum Invitational Motocross before a roaring crowd in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, recently.
Aguilar, who is coming off a 3rd place finish in the tough KL Supercross and an awesome championship ride in the 1st Gov. Evaristo ‘Titong’ Singson Memorial Cup in Vigan, paced the field majority of the way en route to the win.
Only teammate Dela Cruz was able to give Aguilar a decent fight in the tough one-day race, where the Caltex duo shoved their rivals to the backseat of the race held in cooperation with the provincial government of Davao del Norte, ComVal province, City of Tagum.
Popeye Rubi emerged third while Superferry Motocross overall pro open leader Ernie Leongson and Jovie Saulog failed to land in the top 5.
“It has been an up-and-down season for me because of the injury that forced me to sit out three legs of the series. But I certainly would like to end the year with a bang and show everyone what a healthy Aguilar is capable of,” said the top Caltex rider.
Aguilar, who for the past months has allowed his rivals to grab the spotlight due to a back injury that has forced him out of action, was eve deadlier this time as he left his opponents scrambling in the trail of his dust.
