Sembrano wins ‘Padyakan sa Batangas’ first stage

MANILA, Philippines – Renato Sembrano took advantage of the rare chance given to him as he took the first lap of the “Padyakan sa Batangas Eh!" from Laurel to Lian in Batangas Saturday. Sembrano, 28, was riding with the third group that includes two-time Tour champion Warren Davadilla, American Vinyl’s Lloyd Reynante and Padyak Pinoy 2009 back-to-back King of the Mountain Baler Ravina when they entered Lipa City. The Mangaldan, Pangasinan native then made his move in the final 40 kilometers of the first lap where he caught up with the first group composed of Lito Atilano and three Road Bike Phils. riders – Tomas Martinez, Joseph Millanes and Sherwin Diamsay in the town of Calaca. Sembrano, Padyak Pinoy 2009’s first stage winner, also outsprinted Martinez to win the P5,000 lap prize. “Hindi ko inaasahan na ako ang mananalo, kaso nagkaroon ng pagkakataon kaya kinuha ko na," said Sembrano, ninth placer in the recently concluded Padyak Pinoy 2009. Sembrano topped the 160-kilometer stage with a time of four hours, 19 minutes and 49.81 seconds, the same time given to Martinez who went home with P3,000 for finishing second in the first stage. Atilano, of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, checked in third with a time of 4:20:28.42 to claim the P2,000 third prize. “Napakahirap po ng ruta dito lalo dun sa pag-ahon sa Mataas na Kahoy," said Martinez, a native of Tarlac City and member of Team Road Bike Phils., which won the team overall championship in the Tour of Luzon’s revival. “At saka nauna na po sa amin si Sembrano kasi ang lakas ng dating nila, pagod na rin ako kaya nauna siyang pumasok sa finish line," added Martinez. “Kinapos na ako, wala na kasing tubig kaya ang hirap," explained the 28-year old Atilano, who failed to sustain his sole breakaway act in the initial stage. Lian’s “Adopted Son" Baler Ravina finished fourth (4:20:42.84) followed by Reynante and Davadilla, who also received the same times. Millanes and Diamsay came in seventh and eighth respectively with identical times of 4:23:00.92. – GMANews.TV