Aussies bringing in Big 9
Reed better than Betten this time in Bellevue 5150
PANGLAO, Bohol – Ironman 70.3 Philippines three-peat king Tim Reed came to ruin fellow Australian Sam Betten’s grand slam bid in the Bellevue 5150 Triathlon as he topped the men’s pro side while Kerry Morris took the women’s crown on her very first try at the scenic Bellevue Resort here yesterday.
Reed saved his best for last, dominating the run part in 37:53 minutes to rally past Betten and complete his stirring come-from-behind victory in the 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run event in 1:58:24 in the municipalities of Panglao and Dauis.
Betten, who topped the swim and bike stages, held on to the lead after three kilometers of the closing run part but lost steam, enabling Reed to nail his first 5150 title in four years.
“To be honest, I thought my legs were gonna be great on the bike and not so good on the run. Then I felt really flat, I couldn’t get my legs to turn over and Sam was putting in a little bit of time and I just felt I’m just gonna race my own race and try and have a good run,” said Reed after winning the premier class in his first race in Bohol.
The veteran campaigner, drawing inspiration from the crowd, thus added the 5150 crown to his string of Ironman 70.3 triumphs, including the last three Ironman Philippines in Cebu.
“It’s fast and it’s fun. Everyone is cheering for me, so much support so I love to come back here,” said Reed, adding that short races are excellent for experience and training for the longer events.
Despite his failed three-peat bid, Betten, who clocked 2:01:24, said he was more than satisfied with his finish.
“You can’t be disappointed if you’ve won five 5150s and come in second once, that’s a pretty good record,” said Betten, who simply lost steam in the run stage. “I really pushed hard in the swim and bike but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough (of a lead) and struggled in the run. The guy (Reed) is a world champion so it’s really a challenge. I tried and tried and tried but the elastic band, as they say, broke. Hats off to Tim.” Dan Brown wound up a far third in 2:32:56. Morris, on the other hand, added to fellow Australian Dimity Lee Duke’s woes as she topped the women’s side in 2:14:45 to share top honors with Reed in the centerpiece Pro event organized by Sunrise Events Inc. and backed by title sponsor The Bellevue Resort.
“I’m not really worried about what place I’m gonna be. I just wanted to finish the race. I started hurting early on, pushed it on the bike and then the run is just survival-like,” said Morris, adding that she did enjoy racing here and expressed her desire to come back. Reed and Morris took $2,000 each. “The run was where I started to get worried. I felt the heat on the run. But I just had to play with the momentum and pushed hard and ended happy,” said Morris. Laurel Wassner placed third in 2:24:48. Actor Jake Cuenca finished fifth overall and topped the men’s 30-34 division while fellow ABS-CBN talent Gerald Anderson placed second in the 25-29 division.
Meanwhile, Cebu-based Jory Ycong successfully defended his Asian elite plum, foiling a strong field of rivals.
“It’s harder this time with a teammate (Paul Jumamil) that you are racing with. Last year, I was just pushing myself without thinking of a teammate. I was also thinking of the Manila guys as they are fast, but I just kept on going and when he (Jumamil) said that I’d go ahead after I caught up with him as he was already getting slower,” said Ycong.
Edward Macalalad finished second in 2:11:05 while Jumamil ended up third in 2:11:28.
Australia is bringing back nine players from their Asia Cup title conquest in the coming FIBA Asia World Cup qualifiers, easily making the Boomers the top pick in group plays versus Gilas Pilipinas, Japan and Chinese Taipei.
Coach Andrej Lemanis named his Final 12 a month before the opening window of the home-and-away qualifying series set late this month.
Chinese Taipei has also finalized its Last 12 while Gilas Pilipinas and Japan are still working on with their respective national training pools.
Holdovers from Australia’s Asia Cup champion team are Angus Brandt, Jason Cadee, Matt Hodgson, Mitch McMarron, Mitch Creek, Nick Kay, Brad Newley, Cameron Gliddon and Daniel Kickert.
Nathan Sobey, and Rio Olympics veterans Chris Goulding and Damian Martin have been called back to render service to their national team as they host the Japanese on Nov. 24 in Adelaide then play the Taiwanese in Taipei on Nov. 27.
Andray Blatche and his Gilas teammates take their turn to play Australia on Feb. 22 on the Boomers’ home soil.
Gilas coach Chot Reyes has gathered together his pool only last Thursday with Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Alas, Raymond Almazan, Mac Belo, Carl Bryan Cruz, June Mar Fajardo, Jio Jalalon, Allein Malicsi, Gabe Norwood, RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro and Matthew Wright making up the cast in the first two days.
Kiefer Ravena and Terrence Romeo are said to be still out of town while Blatche is set to fly in on Nov. 12.
Also in Gilas’ initial roster submitted to FIBA are Baser Amer, Russell Escoto, Kevin Ferrer, Von Pessumal, LA Revilla and Mike Tolomia.
Japan entered an initial 22-man lineup led by former PBA import Ira Brown. Noted local Japanese players in their roster include Takeuchi brothers Joji and Kosuke, and gunners Makoto Hiejima, Takuya Kawamura and Naoya Kumagae.
The Taiwanese have finalized a lineup that curiously doesn’t include their longtime naturalized player Quincy Davis, who’s been nursing an injury all the way back to the Jones Cup last July.
Their team is composed of Chih-Wei Lin, Cheng Liu, Yi-Hsiang Chou, Huan Ya Yu, PoChen Chou, Long-Mao Hu, Cheng-Ju Lu, YuAn Chiang, Po-Hsun Chou, Li Huan Chieng, Hung-Hsing Wu and Tai-Hao Wu.
The Filipinos tangle with the Japanese in Tokyo on Nov. 24 then host the Taiwanese at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 27.
Australia, however, is the outstanding favorite in their group where Gilas Pilipinas, Japan and Chinese Taipei are likely to slug it out for the two remaining berths to the next round.
The Aussies were fourth placers in the last Olympics and handily hurdled all the opponents in their title run in the last FIBA Asia Cup in China.
“The quality of talent that we have to select from is pleasing and reflects on the healthy state of Australian basketball as well as the NBL,” said the Boomers mentor.
“There are a lot of players putting their hand up for selection and, in the end, we have tried to keep some continuity from the FIBA Asia Cup as well as adding two Rio Olympians,” he also said.