BAGUIO CITY – Eduardo Balabag of Furukawa fitness gym bagged the “2017 Mr. YMCA Bodybuilding” tilt held on December 2, 2017 at the local YMCA, here.
Balabag bested opponents in the Open weight division to bag the championship. He advanced to the selection of the overall champion, which he also won through a unanimous decision of the board of Judges, by outpointing three other competitors in the flyweight, bantam, and senior divisions of the contest.
Balabag was followed by the other winners in the open weight division, 1st Runner Up Denver Libag of the Everwild Fitness Gym (Pangasinan), 2nd Runner Up Richard Rickkey of Strong Tower Gym (Pangasinan), 3rd Runner Up Sonny Benito of Realfit Gym, 4th Runner Up Domino Agasen of Furukawa Fitness Gym and 5th Runner Up – Rens Murphy Alimurong of BFC & Herculean Fitness Gym.
Meanwhile, the Bantam Weight Division was ruled by Champion – Tender Binay-an of the Benguet Fitness Gym, 1st runner up – Jaime Pogdon of Trojans Fitness Gym, 2nd Runner Up – Marlon Estrada of Hard Rock Fitness Gym, 3RD Runner Up – Michael Pano of Mix Fitness Gym, 4th Runner Up –Jones Lao-ay of BXG Fitness gym, and 5th Runner Up – Kurt Dupyano of Furukawa Fitness Gym.
Also bagging the championship for the Flyweight Division is Realfit Fitness Gym’s Jun Benito. He was tailed by 1st Runner Up – Aldrin Kurt Douglas of Exerwild Gym (Pangasinan), 2nd Runner Up – Jun Aris Sino Cruz of Iron Master Gym, 3rd Runner Up – Noel Franklin Jacob of the Titans Fitness Gym, 4th Runner Up – Romeo Cadad of Iron Master Gym, and 5th Runner Up – Dexter Balang Ramos of Herculean Fitness Gym.
Having a new craze in bodybuilding competitions which the YMCA added in its bodybuilding tilt was the physique competition in two categories for the exclusive and open divisions, aimed to provide athletes and bodybuilding enthusiasts the experience in competing and development of young bodybuilders and judge according to the criteria of muscularity and body composition, shape and symmetry and stage presence.
The exclusive division have John Alejo Nefalar as Champion, 1st runner up – Joseph Isla, 3rd runner up – Von Richard Diapera, 4th runner up – Nabil Javier, and 5th runner up – Mars Lucas. For the open division, BFC& Herculean fitness gym’s Renz Muphy Alimurong bag the championship, 1st runner up – Michael Pano of Mix fitness gym, 2nd runner up – Jaime Pogdon of Trojans fitness gym, 3rd runner up – Sonny Benito of Realfit gym, 4th runner up – Peter Diaz of Trojans fitness gym, and 5th runner up – Junaris Sino Cruz of Iron master gym.
This year’s Mr. YMCA was judged by Engr. Troy A. Mencio, president of the United Bodybuilders of Northern Luzon Inc., Mr. Noah Mendita of JDU gym, and Mr. Ceasar M. Lukines of the Benguet Fitness Center, also gracing the competition were the members of the YMCA Board of Directors and Staff headed by YMCA president Mr. Jerome Gawidan who awarded the contest winners with medals, certificate of merit, and cash as prizes.
By: BOBBY VINLUAN