John Alcala in a chat with The Inquirer on Friday. | Denison Rey A. Dalupang/PDI
DAVAO CITY—For someone described to be so tense, John Alcala was so loose when pressed to state his chances in the Alveo Ironman 70.3 that will be flagged off Sunday
“The goal really is [to win] the team challenge,” he said during the press launch Friday. “It’s not about the money, but the pride that the team can gain.”
Alcala is seen as one of the favorites in the men’s division after triumphing in Palawan last November.
He is hell-bent on helping his team’s cause first, but said that that it won’t keep him from trying to shoot for another top finish.
“For this race, I focused on the bike leg. I had an advantage in Puerto Princesa because of the uphill [rides],” he said. “The bike course will [have] headwinds. I’ll make the most after the turn.
“I hope to beat my time here back in 2019,” said Alcala, referring to his 47th-place finish of 4:51:38.
“The best time then was four hours, one [minute] and 19 [seconds],” he added. “That’s what I’ll try to beat. And I hope (my plan) works out this Sunday.”Eleven other teams join Alcala’s Tri SND in the Tribu Maisugon team competition aimed to honor Davao’s 11 ethnolinguistic tribes, an event that adds flavor to the race’s return to the King City of the South.
The winner bags a total of P550,000 and a trophy crafted by homegrown artist Kublai Millan.