Davao City witnessed another spectacular display of athletic excellence as the Grab Super Takbo 2025-Davao concluded with impressive performances across multiple race categories. The event, held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Davao Global Township in Matina, featured an out-and-back course that challenged participants while showcasing the city's growing sports infrastructure.
Men's 21K Division: Bartolo's Dominant Performance
Elmer Bartolo, a 44-year-old native of Calinan, demonstrated exceptional form as he surged to victory in the men's 21-kilometer race. The seasoned athlete crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 39 seconds, significantly improving upon his previous performance of 1:18 at the Hoka Midnight Run Asia Davao.
In an exclusive Messenger interview with SunStar Davao, Bartolo expressed satisfaction with his conditioning during the race. "Kundisyon ko atong sa Grab (I was in great shape for the Grab race)," the champion revealed, highlighting his strategic approach to the competition.
Bartolo shared his race strategy, explaining, "Pag start, Ma'am nag-pace rako sa akung target nga time.. Training lang gyud sa club runbart maong nindot akung time karon (At the start, I paced myself according to my target time. It was really just training with the club run, which is why I was able to post a good time today)."
The men's podium was completed by Edgar Gabais Gabucay, who secured second place with a time of 1:22:09, and Reymar Taleon, who claimed third position with 1:27:29.
Women's 21K: Nassef's Impressive Victory
In the women's 21-kilometer division, Aslia Hadji Nassef emerged victorious with a commanding performance, clocking in at 1:41:58. Her achievement adds to the growing recognition of women's competitive running in the Davao region.
Nassef finished well ahead of second-place finisher Noreen Alyssa Te, who completed the course in 1:49:05, and third-place winner Nelly Joy Palorma, who crossed the finish line at 1:59:25.
Shorter Distance Champions Shine
The 10-kilometer races produced equally thrilling results, with John Kenneth Tadle dominating the men's division with a time of 35:53. He was followed by John Camenero (36:51) and Eliezer Putong Cariñosa (38:12) in second and third places respectively.
The women's 10K saw an intense battle for the top spot, with Deenrave Rodriguez claiming victory in 52:07, narrowly edging out Ayhra Mae Lovitos (52:16). Viah Dumadag rounded out the top three with a time of 53:53.
Other notable winners included:
Men's 5K: Justine Alboroto, Mark James Agudo, and Rj Lumboy
Women's 5K: Yvet June Palazuelo, Hiromi Takeda, and Angelica Kaye Espe
Men's 3K: Jomar Echebira, Gelo Bana, and Lance Soliva
Women's 3K: Kezeah Canada, Angelica Mae Dale, and Monique Reyes
Behind the Success: Organization and Inspiration
The successful event was managed by RunRio and locally organized by Kinetix Sports under Dabawenyo Kenneth Sai, demonstrating the growing capability of Davao to host major sporting events.
For Bartolo, this latest victory represents another milestone in an impressive winning streak that includes the 12K title at the Grand Mall Run on October 5, and 21K victories at both the DCACI Run (October 12) and Puma Run (October 19).
When asked about his motivation, Bartolo emphasized the importance of family support and faith. "Para sa akong pamilya, Ma'am nag support pirme sa akong mga dula ug kay Lord. Kaluy-an ko pirme sa akong mga event walay injury ug sakit beseg idaran nata, 44 na (I'm grateful to my family, who always supports me in every race, and to the Lord. Even at 44, I've been able to finish events without injuries or illness)."
The Grab Super Takbo 2025-Davao not only celebrated athletic achievement but also highlighted the vibrant running community in Mindanao, setting the stage for future sporting events in the region.
