Co-Athletes of the Month Rochelle Tan and Aj Banal

CEBU, Philippines - A fine young lady who has been crowned as the new triathlon queen of Cebu and a lion-hearted professional boxer who is fervently chasing another world title shot are our top choice to share this monthly accolade for March. 

She admitted in an earlier interview that she joined triathlon just for the fun of it. Little did she know that she would eventually learn to love this grueling three-in-one sport and become a competitive athlete in just a span of three years.

“I saw my dad (Tyrone) having fun in triathlon, so I tried it and I loved it,” said Rochelle Tan, who is fortunate enough to have been gifted not only with athletic skills but also with affable looks.

In her first try, she immediately had a podium finish. That’s when things turned more serious for the 18-year-old Rochelle.

And because of her good looks and sensitive-looking skin, many think she can’t do it. But they proved them wrong.

“Yeah, some people think I can’t do it, but here I am now,” she said.

Rochelle has already conquered Ironman Philippines, competed in several XTerra events with flying colors, got a runner-up trophy in the equally-exciting Matabungkay Triathlon and won various local events under her age-group category.

For topping the all-Filipino elite women's division during last month's XTerra Philippines Off-Road Triathlon Championships in Liloan, Tan earned a slot to the World Championships this October in Hawaii.

One week after the Xterra event, Rochelle etched her name her stone as the first women's champion of the Talisay Triathlon. She finally completed a treble by dominating the 16-19 class during the Cebu leg of the National Age-Group Triathlon (NAGT) Series at Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.

Winning three competitions in less than a month was truly an amazing feat for Rochelle.

But despite her potential as evident of her many accomplishments, Rochelle has no plans to become a member of the Philippine Team.

That is for the time being though as Rochelle is still pursuing her college degree, which she is going to use as her springboard to become a commercial airline pilot someday.

“If I’d be in the national team, I have to study and train in Manila. I don’t like that. I also don’t want to be pressured in training. If I get too much pressure, then it’s not fun anymore,” she said.

 Also worthy of an honorable mention for his stirring exploit last month is AJ "Bazooka" Banal, the prized fighter from the ALA Boxing Gym.

The 23-year-old Banal came up with a devastating first round knockout of Mexico's Raul "El Bule" Hidalgo to retain for the fourth time his WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight belt during the main event of the "Pinoy Pride XII:Road to Glory" last March 24 at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Being the WBO No.1 contender, the resounding win assured Banal (27-1-1, 20KOs) of another crack at the world championship before the year ends.

"I really look forward for that opportunity to come again. That is the reason why I always give my one hundred percent in every fight that comes my way. Hopefully, I would be given another world title shot because that's what I've been longing for regardless of who my opponent will be," said Banal. - THE FREEMAN