Balabag is 2017 Mr. YMCA

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, 1^st Runner Up Denver Libag of the Everwild Fitness Gym (Pangasinan), 2^nd Runner Up Richard Rickkey of Strong Tower Gym (Pangasinan), 3^rd Runner Up Sonny Benito of Realfit Gym, 4^th Runner Up Domino Agasen of Furukawa Fitness Gym and 5^th 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, 1^st runner up – Jaime Pogdon of Trojans Fitness Gym, 2^nd Runner Up – Marlon Estrada of Hard Rock Fitness Gym, 3^RD Runner Up – Michael Pano of Mix Fitness Gym, 4^th Runner Up –Jones Lao-ay of BXG Fitness gym, and 5^th 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 1^st Runner Up – Aldrin Kurt Douglas of Exerwild Gym (Pangasinan), 2^nd Runner Up – Jun Aris Sino Cruz of Iron Master Gym, 3^rd Runner Up – Noel Franklin Jacob of the Titans Fitness Gym, 4^th Runner Up – Romeo Cadad of Iron Master Gym, and 5^th 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, 1^st runner up – Joseph Isla, 3^rd runner up – Von Richard Diapera, 4^th runner up – Nabil Javier, and 5^th runner up – Mars Lucas. For the open division, BFC& Herculean fitness gym’s Renz Muphy Alimurong bag the championship, 1^st runner up – Michael Pano of Mix fitness gym, 2^nd runner up – Jaime Pogdon of Trojans fitness gym, 3^rd runner up – Sonny Benito of Realfit gym, 4^th runner up – Peter Diaz of Trojans fitness gym, and 5^th 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