Pagnanawon son vows big Ronda comeback

MANILA, Philippines — Jaybop Pagnanawon spearheads Team Bike Xtreme seeking to make an impact in Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC which fires off March 3 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and ends at Filinvest, Alabang on March 18.

The team also includes two other Pagnanawons, younger Jhunvie and cousin Jhetly, but focus will be on Jaybop, 29, who is out to atone for his so-so showing last year, his bid stymied by mechanical problems that prevented him from even breaking into Top 20.

“Hopefully, I could do better this time,” said Pagnanawon, a native of Talisay, Cebu, in Filipino.

Team Bike Xtreme coach Lloyd Reynante, the man behind Navy-Standard Insurance’s domination in the last few Ronda editions, said their goal is actually to develop future cycling stars.

Apart from the Pagnanawons, the other members of the team owned by Singapore-based Vincent Leow are Michael Ochoa, James Ferfas, Arjay Kaul, Michael Farre and Valdimir Ulanday.

“We’re looking for a top 10 finish and perhaps several stage wins or podium finishes,” said Reynante. “Our purpose is to really help those riders from the provinces who have potential to make it big.”

But he admits the upcoming Ronda will be one of the toughest with a slew of champions and strong riders headlining the stellar field.

They include Team Franzia’s Santy Barnachea, who won the inaugural race in 2011 and the 2015 edition, CCN Superteam’s Irish Valenzuela, the 2013 winner, and Go for Gold’s George Oconer, the 2015 runner-up who missed last year’s race.

There is also Warren Davadilla, former two-time champion of the fabled Marlboro Tour who has come out of retirement to provide Valenzuela help at CCN.

They are all primed up to foil reigning titlist Jan Paul Morales’ of Navy-Standard Insurance bid in the event presented by LBC and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Cycling, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.