BERNARDO DESAMITO FINALLY won his first championship here even as two-time winner Jho-an Banayag defeated a Kenyan runner to dominate Saturday’s Adidas King of the Road 21K foot race at The Fort in Taguig City.

“Sa wakas, nanalo na rin ako (At last, I won),” said the 34-year-old Desamito, whose best finish here was second place two years ago.

Desamito, who was earlier tapped by defending champion Eduardo Buenavista to replace him in Saturday’s race, actually shadowed early leaders Gerald Sabal and Alquin Bolivar before making his move in the final three kilometers of the race.

Desamito clocked one hour, 12 minutes and eight seconds in ruling the men’s 21K race.

Four-time champion Buenavista, an enlisted personnel of the Philippine Air Force, begged off from yesterday’s race because he is slated to compete in the AFP Olympics next week.

Banayag, on the other hand, turned what was supposed to be a tight race between her and Kenyan Sarah Chebet into a one-woman race, finishing in 1:19.01.

“Umpisa pa lang naiwan ko na siya (Chebet) kaya di ko siya napansin sa race (I left Chebet right at the start that’s why I didn’t notice how she fared in the race),” said Banayag.

This is Banayag’s second straight Adidas crown and her fifth title this year after topping full marathons in Clark and Pasig and half marathons in Manila and Davao.

“She is very good,” said the Kenyan runner who is a first-time RP visitor.

Desamito and Banayag each received a P10,000 cash prize and P10,000 worth of Adidas gift certificates.

A total of 5,327 runners participated in yesterday race, the bulk of which are fielded in the 5K and 10K side events.

Topping the 10K run were Alley Quisay (32:22) and Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero (36:35).