Toast to Milo run’s new king, queen

In the end, Cresenciano Sabal got more than what he came for.

For ruling the men’s side of the 29th Milo Marathon yesterday, the native of Sultan Kudarat also took home P85,000 and a ticket to the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon in December.

With his time of two hours 21 minutes and 33 seconds, Sabal won P75,000 and added another P10,000 to his pocket for breaking Eduardo Buenavista’s three-year-old record of 2:22.

Not bad for a couple of hours pounding some of Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares — from the starting point along Roxas Blvd. to Buendia and a long, up-and-down stretch of Edsa.

Not bad either for someone earning just over P100,000 a year as an enlisted man of the Philippine Army. His efforts on this damp Sunday morning was worth P2,000 for every kilometer.

The right to represent the country in the Hong Kong marathon barely two months from now came as a bonus from the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.

Sabal, 26, a former gold medal winner in the Palarong Pambansa, broke loose from the crowded lead pack along Buendia or barely five kms from the start at the Quirino Grandstand.

"Mabagal ang pacing nila kaya kumawala na ako agad. Tapos all the way na ‘yun," said Sabal after winning the Milo title only on his second attempt.

He was third last year but was destined to win this year.

"Lalu ko pang pag-bubutihin," said the 5-foot-5 Sabal, sporting a military haircut.

Finishing behind Sabal were Juniel Languido (2:27.35), Rodolfo Tacadino (2:31.19), Mamerto Corpuz Jr. (2:33.34) and Adonis Lubaton (2:39.010).

"He’s been highly recommended even before. This win only cements his stint in Hong Kong," said athletics chief Go Teng Kok after learning of Sabal’s record feat.

Too bad Sabal won’t be able to join the RP team in next month’s SEA Games since the slots have been allotted to Roy Vence and Allan Ballester, the country’s best.

In the women’s side came out another first-time winner in Jho-An Banayag, who almost fainted after crossing the finish line in 2:59.57.

The 24-year-old student taking up a masteral course at the University of the East pushed herself to the limit the moment she took the final turn to the finish.

Banayag fell into the waiting arms of her teammates, gasping for breath and with her eyes closed. Her legs were wobbly and rubbery and she needed more than five minutes to recover.

"Hay! Pagod na pagod ako," she blurted. "Naghabol lang kasi ako at nakalamang sa last 25 (kms) na lang. Bandang Fort Bonifacio na yun. Tapos dahan-dahan ako nakalayo," she said.

Banayag also took home P75,000, saying she will spend the money to continue her studies, and some of them she would give to her parents.

"Siyempre masayang-masaya ako," added Banayag, already smiling in the company of friends by the time her closest pursuers in Estela Diaz (3:10.40) and Liza Delfin (3:14.03) came in.