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Philippines' Mark Louwel Valderama in action. POC Media Pool
MANILA — Mark Louwel Valderama finally broke through as he won his first Southeast Asian Games medal, netting the bronze in mountain bike men’s cross-country eliminator of cycling on Thursday in Chonburi, Thailand.
It was the cyclist's first podium result after unsuccessful tries in the 2021 Vietnam and 2023 Cambodia editions.
“Sa dami ng SEA Games na nalaruan ko po, ngayon lang din po ako naka-medal kaya sobrang saya ko po na first time ko po nakakuha,” he said.
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Valderama overtook home bet and top contender Watcharakorn Onthuree for second place in a tight battle at the first turn that caused the Thai to crash before the Filipino was passed by eventual silver medalist Zulfikri Zulkifli of Malaysia following the first lap.
But Valderama did just enough to secure the Philippines’ second mountain bike medal after John Derick Farr won the men’s downhill bronze Wednesday.
Indonesia’s Rendy Varera Sanjaya was a runaway winner for the gold.
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“Noong una, ‘yung start ko kasi, parang ‘yung pakiramdam ko na kala ko hindi ko matatapos kasi grabe ‘yung bunsol ko na tapos ‘yung sakit na ng legs ko,” said Valderama.
“Parang nag-throwback ba lahat ‘yung mga sinabi sa akin ni coach na andiyan ka na, isang beses lang yan pwedeng mangyari, kaya ‘yun, in-all out ko. Tsaka ‘yung braso ko talaga, tinigasan ko para ma-maintain ko ‘yung position ko.”
Valderama is coached by Eusebio Quiñones, a former SEA Games veteran who won a cross-country gold in 2003 in Vietnam.
“Para sa bayan po, sa lahat ng nagtitiwala, lalo na po sa mga mahal ko sa buhay, and laro na rin po kay coach,” said Valderama.