JR Barba falls off his bike during his practice run at the Danasan Eco Adventure Park in Danao City. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Brothers Wendell and Eleazer “JR” Barba from Dumaguete made waves in the downhill competition of the Philippine National Championship Mountain Bike Asian Invitational at the Danasan Eco Adventure Park in Danao City, Cebu yesterday.
JR clocked three minutes and 9.01 seconds to top the Men’s Elite while Wendell ruled the Men’s Masters 30-Above with a time of three minutes and 36.82 seconds.
The siblings said this greatest achievement of theirs is dedicated to their father Eleazer Sr., who succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 30 in 1990.
“This is our gift for him,” the 34-year-old Wendell said. “Now he can see us as the top riders in the Philippines.”
The win was also a tough one for the 26-year-old JR as he had to race despite a swollen left elbow that was dislocated after last Saturday’s downhill practice where he tripped on a rolling rock.
JR said he didn’t want the injury to slow him down, so he just took painkillers and iced the elbow to minimize the pain before the race.
In other results, Jonathan Verga (0:04:07.47) of Team V12radgear topped the Men’s 40-Above. Batang Patiis’ Norriel Caliguiran (0:03:54.68) reigned in the Men’s 30-39 age category. Adrian Clark Serrano (0:03:54.32) of 8inch Limited-Banshee Racing won the Men’s 20-29 while Explore Bike Shop’s Radzmier Sabino Salazar (0:04:21.65) beat his lone rival Raf Custodio of Commencal/Prima (0:04:40.25) to top the 19-Under group.