Roland Remolino (left) and Raven Faith Alcoseba (right) after the NAGT Race in Subic Bay, Zambales. | Photo from Fritz Tan Alcoseba
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuano triathlon coach Roland Remolino cannot help but become emotional to see his triathletes shining brightly in their respective categories during last Sunday’s National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) in Subic Bay, Zambales.
Remolino, who is known for his tough coaching, told CDN Digital that he shed tears and became emotional to see his team succeed in a major race like NAGT amidst all the hardships they went through in training with his team, the Go For Gold-Talisay Luigi Triathlon.
“Makahilak ko sa kalipay nga among paningkamot nagbunga ra gyud maski daghan kaayo nga babag sa pandemic, bagyo, walay tarong training venue pareho sa oval ug pool,” said Remolino.
During the middle of their training camp, Remolino and the Go For Gold-TLTG got affected badly by Typhoon Odette that hit Cebu and parts of Visayas and Mindanao last December 16.
The typhoon affected their training and preparation for the race.
However, his son, Andrew Kim managed to place second behind John Leerams Chicano in the men’s standard elite. Andrew Kim, the silver medalist of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games clocked in two hours, five minutes and 44 seconds while Chicano, the 2019 SEA Games gold medalist crossed the finish line at 2:04.58.
Joshua Alexander Ramos rounded off the top three with 2:07.40. Chicano and Remolino will likely represent the Philippines anew in the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in May for their 1-2 finish.
The biggest surprise in the NAGT was Raven Faith Alcoseba who topped the standard women’s elite despite being a newbie in triathlon.
The 18-year-old Alcoseba, who is also from Talisay City, south Cebu, a varsity swimmer of De La Salle University in Manila, upset two favored and more experienced triathletes in Erika Nicole Burgos and Lauren Plaza.
She clocked in 2:23.19 to qualify in the SEA Games while Burgos finished the race at 2:25.45 for second place and Plaza settling at third at 2:29.38.
“Happy kaayo ko kay wala pa siyay two years nakuha na namo ang target namo para kang Raven,” said Remolino.
(I am so happy because she is not yet two years in the sport and we already achieved the target for Raven.)
He added that despite all the trials they’ve been through in training, they maintained consistency among their ranks.
“Lisud pero consistent lang jud mi sa training bisan naa pay pandemic unya naabtan pa gyud mi sa Typhoon Odette. Grabe kaayo among challenge. Pero kahibaw naman mo nako nga dili jud ko mo give up ug mangita sad gyud ko ug paagi para makatraining gihapon mi bisan sa kalisud,” added Remolino.
(It was difficult but we were consistent in our training despite the pandemic and then Typhoon Odette came. The challenge was really great. But you know me, I don’t easily give up and I found a way that they can still train even with the challenges.)
In addition, Jacob Clint Lipura and Beboy Dolen dominated the sprint junior elite and the sprint age group men’s 16-19 years old categories respectively for Go For Gold-TLTG.
The rest of Go For Gold-TLTG’s podium finishers were Nicole Marie Del Rosario (sprint junior women’s elite), Matthew Justine Hermosa (sprint junior men’s elite), Caron Paulter Caron Paulter Cañas (super sprint), and Bobyn Wachter (super sprint).
According to Remolino, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) is planning to send Alcoseba and his son to Portugal to train for the upcoming SEA Games along with other members of the national team.
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