CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance came through with his best effort and ruled the 2.40-kilometer Stage 3 criterium on Tuesday to solidify his hold on the overall lead in the Mindanao Leg of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016 at the Pueblo de Oro grounds here.
The 31-year-old Morales out-sprinted the rest of the field in the final loop to snare his first stage triumph in an hour, nine minutes and 23.64 seconds and gained some precious points that further put him on course in topping the Mindanao Leg.
It was Morales’ first stage win here after coming second to Navy teammate Ronald Oranza in the first two stages in Butuan City.
“It’s a good feeling finally winning one,” said Morales, who hails from Calumpang, Marikina, in Filipino.
It was also a departure to Stage 2, where Morales crashed and suffered bruises to his right shoulder and thigh after he hit the rear wheel of Oranza.
“We had a team meeting before the stage and we talked about keeping everybody safe and I’m happy it turned out well,” he said.
Navy’s Daniel Ven Carino and Rudy Roque finished second and third in 1:09:23.95 and 1:09:24.03, while Oranza checked in at fourth in 1:09:24.47.
It was Oranza’s worst performance after he went on attack mode early by snaring Stages 1 and 2.
Navy team captain Lloyd Lucien Reynante checked in at No. 5 in the stage in 1:09:24.67.
Team LBC/MVPSF’s Arnold Marco and Ronnilon Quita bared their fangs and finished at Nos. 6 and 8 with clockings of 1:09:24.92 and 1:09:25.89, respectively, while Mindanao bet James Paolo Ferfas of Team LCC-Lutayan wound up at No. 10 in 1:09:27.07.