MANILA – Team Philippines, led by Ilongga Ariana Dormitorio, settled for a bronze medal in the cross-country team relay of the 24th Asian Mountain Bike Championships in Danao City, Cebu.
Dormitorio and her teammate John Flores led Team Philippines in negotiating the 25-kilometer race – a five-lap, 5-kilometer technical course – with a time of 1 hour, 51 minutes and 21 seconds on Saturday.
Aside from Dormitorio and Flores, also part of the Philippine cross country squad were Jake Aldrin Rivera, Avegail Rombaon and Jericho Rivera.
The Philippine squad was 10 minutes behind gold medalist China and 4 minutes behind silver medal winner Japan. Finishing behind Philippines were Thailand, Vietnam, Iran, and Malaysia.
Still being held as of press time were the final run for Downhill and the XCO or Olympic Cross Country event. Categories were Men and Women Juniors, Under 23 and Elite.
A total of 142 riders from 14 countries participated in the three-day bike fest. Philippines had the most number of participants with 21, followed by Japan with 17, and Iran and Indonesia with 16 each.
Other members of the Philippine team were Cesar Lapaza, Nino Surban, Nico Lumay, and Melissa Jaroda in Men/Women Elite Cross Country; Archie Duran, Christian Guina and Jeric Soriano in Women/Men Under 23; Cross Country Juniors’ Dave Cuiento, Vince Magalong and Nicole Quinones; and Downhill Elites’ Lea Denise Belgira, Jerrick Farr, JR Barba, Scott Remi, and Radz Salazar.
