Subic Bay: Filipino athlete Darell Johnson Bada emerged victorious in the men’s junior elite category at the 2025 NTT Asia Triathlon Cup held at Subic Bay. Bada completed the race with an impressive time of 1 hour, 1 minute, and 45 seconds, outpacing Japan’s Main Takata who finished in 1:02:10, and fellow Filipino John Michael Lalimos who clocked in at 1:02:26.
According to Philippines News Agency, Bada attributed his success to a strategic breakaway during the run phase following a challenging swim and bike segment. “I really wanted to win so I did my best. The swim was very hard, the bike was challenging. I broke away early in the running stage,” Bada shared, reflecting on his improvement from last year’s third-place finish with a time of 1:03:22.
In the men’s junior category, Euan Arrow Ramos, last year’s Under-15 super sprint champion, finished in eighth place with a time of 1:07:38. Despite a mishap where he lost a shoe after the swim phase, Ramos dominated the bike segment but struggled during the final run phase due to exhaustion.
In the women’s junior elite division, Japan’s Yukiho Okuma claimed victory with a time of 1:08:13, leading ahead of Filipinos Anisha Eunice Caluya at 1:11:18 and Aira Danara Gregorio at 1:12:17. National athlete Kira Ellis was unable to complete the race due to a shin injury, withdrawing after the bike leg on her coaches and therapist’s advice.
In the sprint age-group race, Dustine Dan Eslay, representing 2600 Tri Team North Pine Aquatics, won the men’s 16-19 division with a time of 1:07:24 in his triathlon debut. Eslay, a Grade 12 student at the University of Baguio, expressed eagerness to participate in more competitions moving forward.
The event also saw several other winners across different age categories, including Andie Jimeno, Rafael Sawali, Tristan Rene Santos, Mike Kramer, Craig Douglas, Marvin Baldemor, Junrox Roque, JT Gonzales, and Cristobal Olivas. In the para triathlon category, champions included Edison Badillo, Raul Angoluan, Alex Silverio, Jerome Nelmida and Shyrnel Amiladjid, and the duo Steven and Audrey Coleman.
