Army paddlers top second leg of Cobra-PDBF

MANILA, Philippines - Army flexed its muscles in the last 100 meters to handily win the men’s 300-meter standard division of the second leg of the Cobra Energy Drink-PDBF Dragon Boat Regatta at the Manila Bay on Roxas Boulevard last weekend.

After a close and engaging duel with the Air Force paddlers in the first 200 meters, the Army bets went full speed in ruling the race in one minute, 3.58 seconds in the event powered by Cobra Energy Drink.

 The Airmen finished second (1:07.68)  while Triton A took third (1:12.52).

The competition was also backed by the Manila Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office headed by Liz Villasenor and organized by the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation.

 But Air Force didn’t go home empty-handed, sweeping the 300-meter women small boat and 300-meter mixed standard events of the regatta that drew another huge field of 42 entries.

The Air Force rowers topped the women’s division with a time of 1:24.95 ahead of Triton A (1:29.65) and De La Salle University (1:31.99).

 In the mixed standard class, Air Force won in 1:10.79., nosing out Triton A (1:12.30) and Police (1:12.69).

 Among the newcomers was Team Mambulao of Camarines Norte sponsored by Jose Panganiban town Mayor Ricarte Padilla.

“We welcome Team Mambulao to our growing dragon boat rowing community and hopefully they will continue to support our regattas,” Cobra senior brand manager Dan Ong said.

Ong and Villasenor graced simple opening rites where the Cobra-PDBF squad that captured two golds, one silver and one bronze in the recent IDBF Dragon Boat World Cup held in Fuzhou, China was recognized.