Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5) – The Philippine cycling team is sending one of the country’s biggest delegations to the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“For all the athletes that we have, we have designated different tasks for us to get the medal that we need to deliver for our country,” Philippine cycling team head coach Ednalyn Hualda told CNN Philippines.
Around 30 Filipino cyclists will vie for medals in Vietnam as they attempt to surpass their overall medal performance of three golds, four silvers, and four bronzes in the 2019 event held in Cavite.
In the criterium races, the competing male cyclists are Dominic Perez, Jan Paul Morales, Aidan James Mendoza, and reserve Ronnel Hualda.
2019 SEA Games gold and silver medalist Jermyn Prado leads the women’s side in the criterium races, along with past SEA Games bronze medalist Avegail Rombaon, Marianne Grace Dacumos, Maura Delos Reyes, Maritoni Krog, Kate Yasmin Velasco, and Jelsie Sabado.
The seven ladies will also compete in the individual time trial and massed start races.
2015 SEA Games women’s individual time trial gold medalist Marella Salamat renounced her earlier decision to sit out of the upcoming Vietnam meet and will compete only in her pet race.
Former national and regional champion John Mark Galedo, Marc Ryan Lago, and reserve Rex Luis Krog are the male representatives in the individual time trial race.
Newly minted Ronda Pilipinas champion Ronald Lomotos banners the men’s team in the massed start category, along with veteran road cyclists George Oconer and Ronald Oranza, Jhon Mark Camingao, Daniel Ven Carino, and reserves El Joshua Carino and Ronnilan Quita.
In the mountain bike events, 2019 SEA Games gold medalists John Derrick Farr and Lea Denise Belgira will defend their crowns in the downhill category, along with silver medalist Eleazar Barba, Jr. and Naomi Gardoce.
Edmhel John Flores, Jericho Rivera, and Mark Valderama are the country’s bets in the mountain bike cross country Olympics and relay events. Their female counterparts are Ariana Dormitorio, Nicole Quinones, and Shagne Paola Yaoyao.
“We cannot promise that all of them will gain a medal but we are assuring everyone that we selected the best of the best,” Hualda assured.
The 31st SEA Games mountain bike competitions will run from May 14-17, while the road cycling events will be held from May 19-22.
