Pinoy riders rarin' for golden return

MANILA, Philippines - The Filipino riders, missing the Southeast Asian Games the last time, will be out to make up for lost time in their return in the regional meet in Jakarta, hopeful of snaring no less than five gold medals.

“Our riders can’t wait to compete in the SEA Games once again,” said coach Cesar Lobramonte of the Phl cycling team, which is back in the fold after being relegated on the sidelines in Laos in 2009 as a result of the leadership squabble in their federation.

Back in the games riding for a unified Phl team, the Filipino riders are enthusiastic and eager to battle, optimistic of getting their share of top podium finishes in the velodrome, road, mountain bike and BMX events.

Downhill specialist Joey Barba, individual pursuit bet Alfie Catalan and female rider Maritess Bitbit are expected to reclaim the championships in their respective pet events.

Also considered as gold medal prospects are Niño Surban in cross-country, the team of Lloyd Reynante, Mark Guevarra Galedo, Ronald Gorrantes, George Oconer and Jemico Brioso in team time trial and Daniel Patrick Manabat and Alexis Vergara in BMX.

“We have very high hopes on our team time trial because all of them are strong climbers,” said Lobramonte.

Reynante was second placer in the 2010 Le Tour Filipinas, Oconer finished third overall in the recent LBC Ronda while Galedo and Gorrantes topped a mountain leg each of the same LBC event.

“Our BMX bets are also forces to reckon with. They fared well in a recent world event in the US,” said Lobramonte.

Barba will be the first to plunge into action in downhill, which will have the seeding run tomorrow and the final on Saturday.

“Most probably, we already have a gold medal by Saturday,” said Lobramonte, optimistic Barba will duplicate his triumphs in Cebu in 2005 and in Nakhon Ratchasima in 2007.

The next day, Surban leads three other Filipinos vying for honor in cross-country.

Surban is a favorite following his strong finishes in the last Asian championship and in a recent Langkawi open meet.

He was the best Southeast Asian finisher in the Asian joust, coming in fifth behind two Kazakhs and two Koreans in the event held in Korea.

Riding with Surban in cross-country are veteran Eusebio Quinones, Alvin Benosa and Leopoldo Japitana.

The other Filipino riders are Jan Paul Morales, John Renee Mier and April Eppinger.

They depart for Jakarta in batches starting today.