Navy cyclists dominate Ronda opener

Ronda Pilipinas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BUTUAN CITY—Navy-Standard Insurance took every award and prize possible with Jan Paul Morales seizing the overall lead and Ronald Oranza the Stage One victory in the Mindanao Leg of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016 at Butuan City Hall here Saturday.

Oranza took the 158.32-kilometer stage in four hours, four minutes and 15.01 seconds, besting teammates Morales and Daniel Ven Carino, who finished second and third in 4:04:15.19 and 4:04:15.32, respectively.

It was a dominating performance for the Navymen as they also took the fourth to eighth spots courtesy of team captain Lloyd Lucien Reynante (4:04:16.02), Joel Calderon (4:04:16.66), Jhon Mark Camingao (4:04:24.81), Rudy Roque (4:04:25.16) and El Joshua Carino (4:04:29.91).

James Paolo Ferfas, who is representing Team LCC Lutayan, and unaffiliated Peter Gregorio prevented a sweep of the top 10 by checking in ninth and 10th with times of 4:17:49.82 and 4:20:38.32.

It was just one of the many victories by Navy though in Ronda’s sixth edition presented by LBC and LBC Express, sanctioned by PhilCycling and sponsored by Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Petron and Versa Radio-Tech 1 Corp. with Maynilad and NLEX as minor sponsors.

Morales took the sprint lap while Reynante topped the King of the Mountain race in the stage, enough to catapult the two to the overall lead.

Since this year’s edition is employing a new scoring system that gives equivalent points to a certain finish, Morales amassed 20 points to take the leader’s LBC red jersey while Reynante is a point behind with 19.

Rounding up the top 10 in the overall standings were Carino (eight points), Calderon (six), Camingao (five), Carino (four), Ferfas (two) and Gregorio (one).

Because of the Navy’s impressive showing, it won a whopping P59,000 just in this stage.

“I was expecting it because we came prepared,” said Reynante.

Oranza came through with his third lap victory after six editions of this annual race.

“I’m just happy the whole team did well,” said Oranza, whose best finish was third overall in the third staging three years ago.