Baguio City—Ronald Lomotos is getting ready for his next challenge—the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
This is what awaits the 27-year-old Lomotos after he claimed the P1-million top purse that was at stake for winning the overall individual honors of the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas, which ended at Burnham Park on Sunday.
His Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance coach Ronald Gorrantes said this after the team retained the Ronda crown it held in 2020, with the Navymen seeking to improve on the bronze medals they bagged in the men’s team time trials and team road race of the 2019 SEA Games which the country hosted.
“We have no international competitions this year, except for the SEA Games. We will now get ready for this,” said Gorrantes following Sunday’s awarding ceremonies at the Baguio Convention Center.
It will be recalled that Lomotos, with teammates El Joshua Carino and Junrey Navarra were part of the Philippine team that clinched the bronze medal in the last biennial meet.
Back then, they were also with Go For Gold’s Jonel Carcueva, Team Nueva Ecija Marcelo Felipe and Navy’s Ismael Grospe.
Also preparing for the SEA Games are Go For Gold’s Dominic Perez, Aidan Mendoza, Daniel Carino, and Mark Lago.
This time, they will miss Navarra, who dropped out in one of the stages because he needed to recover from tuberculosis.
Lomotos said his overall championship win in the recent Ronda event has inspired him to do better.
“I thank them (Navy) for their support and now we’ll be supporting each other in our next competitions,” said Lomotos after receiving his P1-million prize.
With his big cash bonanza, Lomotos said he might settle down next year. He also thanked his fiance Marie Pearl Corpuz, who provided inspiration to him, cheering him on during the crucial Stage 9 race from Santiago, Isabela to Baguio City.
“Yes, I might even get married next year,” added Lomotos, who hails from San Felipe, Zambales.