The then-promising prospect, Cesar Catambay of Barangay Malabago, Mangaldan, Pangasinan, was an ambitious, unheralded 19-year-old powerhouse whose potential was discovered by the astute Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
In 1973, Catambay, a diamond in the rough, was enlisted as the third man on a mostly rookie West Pangasinan cycling team skippered by Garcia, the team’s only seasoned rider.
“Nadiskubre at nakitaan ko lang siya ng potensyal noong sumasama siya palagi sa aming ensayo,” Garcia recounted.
The 10-day great revival of the Tour of Luzon in 1973 featured one of the most dramatic finales in history, marked by the slimmest margin of victory ever recorded—just 54 seconds—at that time. The prodigious 19-year-old Catambay nearly pulled off a rookie sensation as the Pangasinan squad secured yet another 1-2 finish in Tour’s history.
Catambay, who would later serve as a constable and become the first heartbreak kid, ultimately became a celebrated “eternal second fiddle.”
Catambay delivered giant-slaying performances on three occasions across his vibrant cycling career, finishing as overall runner-up to provincemates “Biking Jess” Garcia in 1973, Teodorico Rimarim in 1974, and rookie champion Romeo Bonzo in 1983—three historic editions where formidable Pangasinan swept the top two overall spots.
www.dwaentertainment.com 
Leave a comment