Barba kicks off Pinoy riders bid for gold

JAKARTA – The Philippine cycling team is banking on Joey Barba to give them a winning start, hopeful the veteran rider reclaim the SEA Games mountain bike down hill title he failed to defend in Laos in 2009.

Whatever happened in the seeding run yesterday, the Filipino coaches believe Barba will be tough to beat in the final run set at 2:30 p.m. today in Gunung Pancar, West Java.

“He’s in good shape. He topped a recent event in Clark (Pampanga) with a clocking good for a gold medal in the SEA Games,” said coach Norberto Oconer.

“It’s better if Joey runs well in the seeding. If he tops it, he’ll be the first rider to be flagged off in the final. The course is still smooth then,” said another Filipino coach Cesar Lobramonte.

 Second in the seeding in Khao Yai Thieng, Thailand in 2007, Barba came out even stronger in the final to successfully retain the championship he won in Cebu in 2005.

Victor Espiritu and Alfie Catalan later won their respective events as the Philippines pocketed three golds in the 2007 SEAG.

The Filipino coaches believe they can well improve on that showing, optimistic they also have gold medal prospects in Marites Bitbit, Niño Surban, the men’s road race team and in their BMX riders.

“We may already have a gold tomorrow (today),” said Lobramonte, having high hopes in Barba.

Barba is the lone Filipino bet in a field of 13 in the 1.5km down hill ride.

Barba will be up against Indons Hildan Afosma Kata, Popo Ario Sejati and Purnomo, Malaysians Adam Faroze Ahmed, Muhamad Fareez Bor and Norshahreil Haizat, Singaporeans Francis Kreml, and Tan Hong Chun, Thais Chatchai Jarupeng and Tanaphon Jarupeng and Vietnamese Ha The Long and Quach Van Nong.

The Indons are major contenders for their familiarity with the course.

On Sunday, Surban leads three other Filipinos vying for honors 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.