Rookie storms home 1st double winner

NAGA CITY, Philippines  – Rookie Jan Paul Morales edged March McQuinn Aleonar, Julius Mark Bonzo and a host of others in a mad dash to the finish to rule the rain-hit Stage Seven even as Baler Ravina clung to the overall lead in another massed finish in the second LBC Ronda Pilipinas here yesterday.

Morales, of Navy A-Standard and a double bronze medal winner in last year’s SEA Games, poured it all out in the last 100 meters to beat Aleonar of Army-RC Cola and Bonzo of Phl Under-23 and become Ronda’s first double-leg winner after topping the 118.7km Butuan City-Surigao Stage Four.

Morales, his wet, muddy jersey unzipped, raised his arms in triumph as he crossed the finish line before a wildly cheering crowd along Panganiban Street of this bustling city.

He clocked two hours, 35 minutes, 49 seconds in another massed finish that saw all but nine of the 86 surviving cyclists checking in with the same time.

The win earned the Marikina City-based seaman 2nd class his second P50,000 paycheck plus the 10-second bonus deduction for his latest feat in this 115km leg that started in Legazpi, Albay, passed through wet, slippery roads before ending in this Camsur capital.

“I’m blessed with experienced teammates, if not for them, I wouldn’t have won laps here in Ronda,” said Morales in Filipino.

Aleonar, 26, tried to end a long Tour drought but faded in the face of Morales’ blazing finish. He settled for another runner-up finish, stretching his streak of heartbreakers since he turned pro seven years ago.

“In 2005, I was leading the Young Rider of the Year but I was overtaken in the last minute by Renato Sambrano and I was also close to winning the sprint king award in 2007 before I was dislodged by Bernard Luzon,” said Aleonar, a native of Davao City.

“I also had a chance to win the Baguio stage last year but finished third and after I failed again to win here, I guess my search continues,” said Aleonar, who finished fourth overall in last year’s Ronda inaugurals.

For Bonzo, he considers his recent podium finish as a step towards getting a crack at the crown and ending up like his late father, 1984 Tour champ Romeo and his uncle, 1976 titlist Modesto.

“I’m doing my best to be like them,” said Bonzo, a member of the LBC-funded developmental pool that trained in The Netherlands.

The third massed finish also failed to shake up the leaderboard with Ravina staying on top with an aggregate time of 27:29.48, 59 seconds ahead of One Tarlac’s Joseph Millanes, who has 27:30.47.

Also keeping their places in the top 10 are V-Mobile’s Oscar Rindole (27:31.25), LPGMA-American Vinyl’s Cris Joven (27:31.44), V-Mobile’s Rey Martin (27:32:13), Metro Manila’s Ronald Gorantes (27:33.12), One Tarlac’s Tomas Martinez (27:33.12), Road Bike’s John Galedo (27:33.48), Mindanao’s Dexter Nonato (27:33.56) and West-Central Pangasinan’s Reynaldo Navarro (27:34.01).

Bonzo kept his post at No. 11 with 27:34.12 while reigning titlist Santy Barnachea of West-Central Pangasinan, last year’s third place George Oconer of Phl Under-23, last year’s second placer Joel Calderon of V-Mobile and West-Central Pangasinan were also in contention with 27:35.15, 27:36.10, 27:36.16 and Quirimit with 27:38.23.