SI RACHA, Thailand - Mark Louwel Valderama clinched a bronze medal in the cross country eliminator or XCE event at the close of the mountain bike competitions of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo on Thursday.
Valderama checked in at third behind winner Rendy Varera Sanjaya of Indonesia and second-placer Zulfikri Zulkifli of Malaysia in the 400m race track for the Philippines' second medal in cycling.
John Derick Farr copped a bronze in the downhill run on Wednesday.
READ: Mountain bike bronze is PH's first medal in Thailand SEA Games
The 25-year-old Sta. Maria, Bulacan native won the first medal of his SEA Games career on the third try.
His bronze could be credited to his full-time training for four months after he graduated with a criminology course at Immaculate Conception Academy in Sta. Maria, Bulacan last July.
“Sa dami ng SEA Games na nalaruan ko, ngayon lang din po ako naka-medal kaya sobrang saya ko na first time ko nakakuha,” said Valderama, who also aspires to be a fireman someday.
“Last year, hindi siya nakakasama sa labas kasi nag-OJT, magdu-duty. Ngayon lang siya naka-focus nung August, nakapag-ensayo siya,” said Valderama’s coach Eusebio Quinones.
Quinones, a former SEA Games gold medalist, said Valderama was chosen among a pool of mountain bikers, although the selection process also got delayed, as the national open this year was cancelled due to typhoon Tino that destroyed the race track in Danao.
“Doon sana ‘yung original na kukuha ng lineup pero hindi nangyari ‘yun. Pero ok lang ‘yun dahil nakapag-ambag pa rin sa Pilipinas. Kahit bronze, pinaghirapan nila ‘yun,” said Quinones.
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