Tanduay finish echoes triumph of Filipino spirit

Team Tanduay arrived in Manila sixth overall in the team competition of the Air21 Tour Pilipinas 2004, two notches lower than last year, but No. 1 in the hearts of many.

"What we saw out there was pure determination of the Filipino spirit," said Wilson Young, Tanduay’s chief operating officer who personally welcomed the team at the end of the 2,758.69-km odyssey at the Quirino Grandstand.

"Considering the odds, this team has made us proud. We are proud to be associated with this bunch and we are looking forward to bigger things in the next Tour."

Young treated his Rhum Riders to a sumptuous Chinese dinner last night, thanking each and every one of them for "Celebrating the Filipino Spirit," the theme of Tanduay’s 150th anniversary this year, during the 17-lap, 21-day summer spectacle.

Crowds rallied behind the team, especially during the time when the Rhum Riders fell to 12th and last after deposed individual champion Arnel Quirimit was downed by the flu.

This was evident during laps and after them, when the company’s advertising department headed by Larry Li held virtual street parties in the town plaza of every stop.

From as far as 63rd in the individual race after Stage 3, Quirimit steadily clawed back and finished in the Top 20 to anchor the team’s finish worth P250,000.

Aside from Quirimit, the other members of Team Tanduay are Reynaldo Navarro, Wilfredo Calosa, Bernie Llentada, Marcial Robosa, Saul Severino and Julie Panong.