2008 Philippine Novice, Juniors, Sub-Juniors, Masters, Class B & Special Athletes Powerlifting Championships

Feb 2-3, 2008

Robinsons Otis

Zest lifters produce 30 RP records, 6 Best Lifter awards, exceeded 14 Asian records for the first event for the year

Best Lifter Awardees (Zest lifter unless otherwise indicated): Edgar Cruz (Novice), Patrick Rivera of UP (Juniors), Raymond Debuque (Sub-Jrs), Eddie Torres (Master I), Rene Dio of Gold’s Gym (Master II), Ric Arce of UP (Master III), Cesar Fernandez for Michael Almendrala (Special Athletes)

Eddie Torres totaled 843.5 kg, a new all-time highest Filipino powerlifting total. At a bodyweight of 98.7 kg, he again produced another all-time highest “by-formula” score of 516 Wilks points. Eddie made new Philippine Open records with a 333.5 kg Squat, 335 kg Deadlift (equaling the Asian Open record), and 843.5 kg Total. He easily wins the Men’s Master I Best Lifter award. Eddie’s squat, deadlift, and total also exceeded his own Asian Master records.

Merly Medina, despite competing at only 51.2 kg, made the highest female powerlifting Total of the meet with 372.5 kg, a Philippine Open record. She also made a new Open squat record of 150 kg (almost triple bodyweight), and 92.5 kg bench press (not far from 2 times bodyweight). Her bench press was a new all-time highest by-formula, overtaking our very own Lily Pecante. Merly also made a personal best 130 kg Deadlift. Merly took the Women’s Master I Best Lifter award. Merly’s squat, bench press, and total all exceeded the Asian Master records.

Merly receiving her Master I Best Lifter award

See a video of Merly's 150kg squat

Nina Oca, at only 50.9 kg bodyweight, surprised everyone by totaling 335.5kg, the 2^nd highest women’s total of the meet and a new Master II record. She made new RP Masters II records in all the events with a 130 kg Squat, 67.5 kg Bench Press, and 138 kg Deadlift (which also broke the Master I record). Nina won the Women’s Master II Best Lifter Award. All of Nina’s lifts exceeded the Asian Master II records. Her deadlift and total also exceeded the Asian Master I record.

Nina receiving her Master II Best Lifter award

See a video of Nina's 138kg deadlift

Tony Taguibao, who turns 50 this year, has once again proven that age is not a barrier. Going over the 56 kg limit by just 500 grams, Tony broke the 60kg Philippine Open Squat record with a lift of 210.5 kg. That’s 3.7 times bodyweight! His squat also exceeds the Asian Master II record. He also broke the RP Master II deadlift record with a lift of 207.5 kg. His 510.5 kg Total was a new RP Master II record.

Bill Blankenship, Master I 125 kg gold medalist, produced a new Philippine Open squat record with a lift of 300.5 kg which exceeds the Asian Master record. Bill also made a new Master I deadlift record of 231 kg.

Edgar Cruz, a 6 month trainee at Zest, got what he came for: A new Philippine novice record and Gold medals for both the Novice & Class B categories for the 60 kg class. Edgar deadlifted 191 kg for the record. He even completed 197.5 kg but got red-flagged for slight downward movement. Edgar also won the Novice Best lifter trophy.

Edgar receiving his Novice Best Lifter award

14 yr old Raymond Debuque made a new Sub-Jrs squat record in the 110kg class with a lift of 187.5 kg. Raymond totaled 415kg to win the gold and the Sub-Jrs Best Lifter award.

Michael Almendrala won the 90 kg special athletes category by totaling 357.5 kg, winning him the Special Athletes Best Lifter Award

Michael and Mark receiving their medals. Also in the photo (L-R) are Rico Tocol of Gold’s Gym, former RP Open deadlift record holder Leonard Llena, and Jacqueline Tan of UP

Ting Gonzales won the 100 kg Special Athletes gold medal with a total of 345 kg.

Cesar Fernandez unexpectedly won the 75 kg Master I class with personal best lifts in all events.

Andrei Matias won the 82.5 kg juniors division gold medal with a 487.5 kg Total.

Ronnie Martinez added another gold medal to his collection with his Master II gold medal in the 125 kg class

Wilbert Cua won the 100kg Master I silver medal. Wilbert made a personal best 210 kg deadlift.

See a video of Wilbert's 210 kg deadlift

Mark Inductivo won the 90 kg Special Athletes silver medal behind Michael A.

Asian Records exceeded:

Merly Medina – 52 kg class

Asian Masters I record – Squat: 150 kg

Asian Masters I record – Bench Press: 92.5 kg

Asian Masters I record – Total: 372.5 kg

Nina Oca – 52 kg class

Asian Masters I record – Squat: 130 kg

Asian Masters I record – Deadlift: 138 kg

Asian Masters I record – Total: 335.5 kg

Asian Masters II record – Squat: 130 kg

Asian Masters II record – Bench Press: 67.5 kg

Asian Masters II record – Deadlift: 138 kg

Asian Masters II record – Total: 335.5 kg

Tony Taguibao – 60 kg class

Asian Masters I record – Squat: 210.5 kg

Eddie Torres – 100 kg class

Asian Masters I record – Squat: 333.5 kg

Asian Masters I record – Deadlift: 335 kg

Asian Masters I record – Total: 843.5 kg

Asian Open record (equaled) – Deadlift: 335 kg

Bill Blankenship – 125 kg class

Asian Masters I record – Squat: 300.5 kg

Philippine Records:

Merly Medina – 52 kg class

RP Open record – Squat: 150 kg

RP Open record – Bench Press: 92.5 kg (new all-time strongest Filipina bench press by formula)

RP Open record – Total: 372.5 kg

RP Open record – Single-Lift Bench Press: 92.5 kg

RP Masters I record – Squat: 150 kg

RP Masters I record – Bench Press: 92.5 kg

RP Masters I record – Total: 372.5 kg

RP Masters I record – Single-Lift Bench Press: 92.5 kg

Nina Oca – 52 kg class

RP Masters I record – Deadlift: 138 kg

RP Masters II record – Squat: 130 kg

RP Masters II record – Bench Press: 67.5 kg

RP Masters II record – Deadlift: 138 kg

RP Masters II record – Total: 335.5 kg

Tony Taguibao – 60 kg class

RP Open record – Squat: 210.5 kg

RP Masters I record – Squat: 210.5 kg

RP Masters I record – Total: 510.5 kg

RP Masters II record – Squat: 210.5 kg

RP Masters II record – Deadlift: 207.5 kg

RP Masters II record – Total: 510.5 kg

Edgar Cruz – 60 kg class

RP Novice record – Deadlift: 191 kg

Eddie Torres – 100 kg class

RP Open record – Squat: 333.5 kg

RP Open record – Deadlift: 335 kg

RP Open record – Total: 843.5 kg

RP Master I record – Squat: 333.5 kg

RP Master I record – Deadlift: 335 kg

RP Master I – Total: 843.5 kg

Raymond Debuque – 110 kg class

RP Sub-Junior record – Squat: 187.5 kg

Bill Blankenship – 125 kg class

RP Open record – Squat: 300.5 kg

RP Masters I record – Squat: 300.5 kg

RP Masters I record – Deadlift: 231 kg

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