In the bag forAtilano

Emilito Atilano of Team Pangasinan virtually bagged the overall title of the 2007 Omega Pain Killer Tour of Cebu by finishing a strong second to Nilo Estayo of Manila in Stage 3 yesterday.

Estayo finished the 168.9-kilometer stage from Toledo City to Dalaguete in 3:04: 44.24 seconds. Atilano was not far behind with 5:05:10.75 while Baler Ravina finished third with a time of 5:05:54.54.

Nino Surban settled for fourth with 5:06:21.29 while Basergo finished fifth with the same clocking.

The day, however, belongs to Atilano. With only the 6.5 criterium scheduled tomorrow at Mandaue’s Reclamation Area, he had the tour title in the bag.

Aside from lap honors, Estayo also won the sprint king title with 10 points. Robert Villaber, team captain of Cebu Province, meanwhile, showed his mountain climbing skills by taking the King of the Mountain title.

“I was eyeing to win three today – lap, sprint and mountain king – but I could only win two titles,” Estayo told the Freeman after the race.

For the second straight day, the riders have to deal with rough roads. When they reached Aloguinsan, riders suffered from flat tires and other mechanical trouble.

Bad roads didn’t deter the more daring riders from breaking away. Villaver and Michael Reyes broke away but Atilano and 15 other riders caught up with them in Mantalungan, Barili.

A flat tire cost Villaver some precious minutes that paved the way for Atilano, Basergo and March Aleonar to move ahead in Dumanjug. Ravina, together with Villaver, staged an attack and led the pack while passing the towns of Ronda, Moalboal and Badian.

Atilano suffered a flat tire at the boundary of Alegria but was able to chase the pack and even led the group in Malabuyoc.

As the riders were nearing Dalaguete, the big guns watched each other but forgot Estayo who sprinted the last 2.5 kilometers for his lap victory.

Atilano leads the tour with a total time of 11:12:39.14. His closest pursuer, Basergo has 11:16:08.37 and Surban at third place with 11:17:40.03.

Only a major breakdown or spill could prevent Atilano from being crowned the winner of the Omega Pain Killer Tour of Cebu when it ends today.

Cebu Province also virtually bagged the team’s overall title with 33:54:31.14 over Danao City’s 33:57:40:51 and Nueva Viscaya’s with 34:11:11.34.

Nilo Barbalosa, skipper of Cebu Province said that the team victory is their birthday gift to Governor Gwen Garcia. He also thanked lawyer Jong Sepulveda for supporting the team.