Meet the Growing Team Saucony

Saucony continues to inspire people through running since 1898. This Boston-based award-winning running and lifestyle brand proudly presents its latest roster of influential athletes from the Philippines from different backgrounds.

TEAM DE ROSA

Joining Team Saucony’s impressive roster of talented athletes this year is Team De Rosa triathlon team, composed of diverse and passionate athletes whose love for the multisport is quite contagious and inspiring. This budding team of athletes hopes to continue to influence and encourage as many people as possible to break out of their shell and start living an active and healthier lifestyle. Members include Philippine National Team elite athletes Caleb Barlin, Julius Constantino, Edward Macalalad; and age groupers and consistent podium finishers Mark Jhon Malolot, Ryan Laurino, Kenneth Tan, business owners Charlson Lim and Anthony Cu, and celebrity triathlete Jake Cuenca. 

TEAM FORD FORZA

Businessman Gianluca Guidicelli leads a diverse team consisting of members from various industries such as actor Matteo Guidicelli, who won 1^st Place in Xterra Lite this year, his sister and entrepreneur Giorgia Guidicelli, cancer survivor Joey Torres, longtime triathlete Elmo Clarabal, businessmen Ian Solana and Romeo Castro, 2013 Pinoy Big Losers participants and brothers Ralph David and Christian Du, sports enthusiasts Patricia Espino, Donikko Fernan and Christian Saladaga.

TEAM HERBALIFE

A perpetual mainstay when it comes to bagging awards and podium finishes, Team Herbalife has been a part of Team Saucony for 4 years now with current members Coach Omar Paredes and Laarni Paredes, the only Filipino finishers of the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon; Jayline Balatibat, who recently won 3^rd Place in Ironman 70.3 Korea; seasoned triathletes Lezette Albarote, Hiroshi Takei, Carlo Chiong, Edric Ravalo, Joy Antolin, Jozim Eugenio; and sports enthusiasts Zyro Manzanilla, Zoe Banzon, and Madeline Argosino.

 OMAR AND LAARNI PAREDES

Philippine triathlon scene’s ultimate power couple and 8-time Irondistance finishers Omar and Laarni Paredes, are the first only Filipinos to race and finish the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, arguably the most brutal long-distance triathlon held in Eidjford, Norway with a 3.8km swim in ice cold water, 180km bike through 5 mountains and a 42km run up Mt. Guastatoppen.

COACH PJ RIVERA

John Patrick Rivera, better known as Coach PJ is an International Triathlon Union (ITU) Level II Coach (Competitive Coaching) and Philippine National Para Triathlon Coach. He is currently the only Certified Provider of the Active Release Techniques in the Philippines.

RAUL CUEVAS & TING JOSON (BIKE KING)

Raul Cuevas and Ting Joson are seasoned triathletes, race directors, organizers, and owners of Bike King. Cuevas joined his first triathlon in Subic at age 20 in 1993. At that time, there was only one standard-distance triathlon per year in the country with less than 100 participants. His passion for the sport motivated him to organize races to give triathletes a chance to join more than one race per year and grow the sport in the country. Joson still actively joins races and even won 1^st Place in her age group at the MusaMan Tridavnor in Davao. She is currently an instructor in Saddle Row, a premier rowing and cycling studio in the country.

VICTOR BASA

Standing almost 5’11, and weighing some 170 lbs, model-actor Victor Basa leads a fast paced lifestyle as an fitness and lifestyle blogger, model, and online influencer. Basa keeps fit and camera ready with his own split exercise program and can lift 200 lbs in a bench press while maintaining the form. Basa said, “I like the high performance support my Saucony’s give me. It gives me confidence in any exercise and sport I do. I consider it an investment. Basa is also gearing up towards running a sub-50 min. 10k.

JAKE CUENCA

Jake Cuenca has become more and more serious about the sport, even going as far as competing in the relay of Ironman 70.3 Cebu and winning podiums such as his 2^nd Place in the Sprint Distance of the Pilipinas Duathlon Series Leg 3. For months now, the 29-year-old has been training at the crack of dawn and racing alongside his co-stars and fellow athletes Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu. Now 29, the athletic Cuenca sees triathlon as a life-changing experience, setting up bigger goals for himself in the future. He said, “I used Saucony for my first race and I’ll use Saucony for my last race.”

EBE DANCEL

Multi-awarded singer songwriter behind main themesongs for movies and TV shows, Ebe Dancel is also a running enthusiast. He got influenced to the sport by Saucony’s Coach Omar Paredes, his neighbor and friend from Los Banos. Dancel recently finished his first 21k race with an impressive time of 2 hours and 3 minutes. Apart from projects and live shows, Dancel has also been devoted to training so he can participate in duathlons in 2018.

YAEL YUZON

Yael Yuzon, best known as the vocalist of rock group Sponge Cola, is also an avid runner. He even competed in the Marathon du Médoc, an annual French marathon race created in 1985 with a scenic running route with wine stops that goes through the vineyards of the Médoc in the Gironde. Yuzon consistently includes running in his fast-paced lifestyle as a musician.