After statement win, Oranza wants the big prize

MANILA, Philippines – Ronald Oranza made a statement when he swept almost every prize available in the Luzon qualifying leg of the Ronda Pilipinas 2015 presented by LBC in Tarlac and Antipolo City last Tuesday.

He wants the big one.

"I've been trying year after year but I always fell short," said Oranza, a consistent top 10 finisher but never a winner, in Filipino a day after he topped both Stages One and Two and emerged the King of the Mountain and Sprint King in the process in the two-stage qualifier.

"Hopefully, this could be my year," he added.

The 22-year-old Villasis, Pangasinan native, who is also a member of the Chris Allison-mentored national team, was simply a cut above the rest and never gave anyone a chance to snatch a stage.

George Oconer, Jr., also a member of the national squad, had a chance to take the Stage Two win as he emerged the leader going into the final 200-meter stretch only to get overtaken by Oranza in the end.

"He (Oranza) has the potential," said ageless Santy Barnachea, Ronda's inaugural champion in 2011 who is also skippering the Navy-Standard Insurance team that Oranza is representing in the Championship round.

Oranza though will have his hands full as he will face some very tough foes like the 38-year-old Barnachea himself, and former Ronda champions Reimon Lapaza of Butuan City, Mark Galedo of 7-Eleven and Irish Valenzuela of Army.

"I know it’s going to be tough but if all things work out fine, I'll be okay," said Oranza.

Over 80 qualifiers, including under-23 and under-18 riders, made it to the Championship round where Lapaza, Galedo and the national team and a composite European squad are waiting and eager to battle for the top purse worth P1 million.

The main event starts on Sunday with a 60-km criterium that will go around Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna in the morning and a 120.5-km lap from Calamba to the Quezon National Park or Tatlong Eme (Three Ms) or Bitukang Manok (chicken instestine) in Atimonan, Quezon in the afternoon.

From Atimonan, Ronda will pass from Lucena, Antipolo, Malolos, Tarlac, Dagupan and then Baguio where the final two stages will be held.

The race is presented by LBC and supported by major sponsors the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Petron and Mitsubishi and minor sponsors Cannondale, Standard Insurance, Tech1 Corp., Maynilad and NLEX and sanctioned by PhilCycling under Cavite Congressman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino with TV5 and Sports Radio as media partners.

For updates, check Ronda Pilipinas’ official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/RondaPilipinas, and Twitter account, @rondapilipinas.