Riders haul 2 more bronzes in Asia Cup

BANGKOK — The Philippine cycling team returned home proud owners of five bronze medals — two more came its way Thursday - from Rounds 1 and 2 of the Asian Cycling Confederation Asia Cup track championships.

And no less than a strong performance in the 15th Asian Games is next for the Filipino tracksters, who, national head coach Jomel Lorenzo said, would be peaking in time for Doha (Qatar) in December.

"The cyclists are proud of their accomplishment and if they officially make the Team Philippines to Doha, then they would peak just in time," said Lorenzo, who was accompanied in the team by track coach Joselito Santos and assistant Dindo Querimit.

Ageless Paterno Curtan Jr. clinched the men’s points race bronze medal and the duo of Arnold Marcelo and Alvin Benosa were third in the madison to wrap up the Philippines’ campaign in the prestigious Cup that started with Round 1 in Ipoh, Malaysia, during the weekend and concluded with Round 2 here Thursday.

Curtan, the most veteran at 35 and a national rider since the 1993 SEA Games, proved experience remains a plus in cycling and clinched bronze in the points race. "It’s a present for my daughter," said Curtan, whose daughter Carmel turned two Thursday.

Marcelo bucked a three-rider crash and despite scratches in three parts of his body, rode on with Benosa for the Philippines’ fifth bronze medal. The bronze was Benosa’s first international medal in his first stint outside the country.

The Philippine team, sent here by the PhilCycling headed by Bert Lina through the direct funding of the Philippine Sports Commission with support from Air21, Mail and More, Dos-1, Elixir Sports and Trifeme Sports, has five bronze medals in two rounds of the annual event.

Baby Marites Bitbit clinched two - women’s 500-meter individual time trial and individual pursuit - in Ipoh, and Alfie Catalan, Marcelo, Carlo Jasul and Curtan were third in the men’s team pursuit in Bangkok.

The Japanese pair of Kanehira Jun and Saeki Sho earned 25 points to clinch gold in the madison. Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lufti and Mohd Sayuti Zahit bagged the silver in the event with 19 points. Marcelo and Benosa had 14 points, beating for the bronze Thai and Chinese pairs.

Thailand’s Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn had 80 points and Japan’s Ikeura Toshihiko amassed 72 to finish 1-2 in the points race. Curtan made the podium with 23 points.

Jan Paul Morales, the youngest on the team at 19, was fourth in keirin behind a Hongkong and two Japanese riders Thursday. Jasul was seventh in the event.