Aussies banner Powerman bets

World-ranked Australians Thomas Bruins and Matt Smith banner the elite field competing in the 2017 Powerman Philippines Asian Championship kicking off Sunday at Clark Freeport Zone.

Bruins, winner of the recent Powerman Asia Duathlon Championships in Malaysia, aims to better his runner-up finish to Frenchman Gael Le Bellec in last year’s edition of the event presented by Summit Drinking Water.

Tipped to give Bruins stiff competition in the run-bike-run event is Smith, ranked No. 9 in the world.

Also expected to figure prominently in the event are Malaysians Ziq Junaidy and Jason Loh, who placed fifth in Powerman Malaysia and ranked No. 11 in the world.

Local ace Monica Torres, winner of the ITU Asian Middle distance division in the Powerman Asia Duathlon in Malaysia, looms as one of the top choices in the distaff side of the Elite division after finishing third last year.

She will be up against Alexandra McDougall and Japanese Airi Sawada, fourth and fifth placer, respectively.

Sawada is brimming with confidence following a victory in Indonesia that raised her world ranking to No. 3. —ROY LUARCA