Ong rules bodybuilding championship

Coming up a little short last year was all the motivation John March Ong needed to keep his focus and prepare for the 2005 Northern Mariana Islands Bodybuilding Championships.

After six months of training and three months of adhering to a strict diet, Ong finally fulfilled his dream by taking home three trophies, including the coveted overall championship, in Saturday’s competition at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.

“I feel happy and I’m very flattered and overwhelmed,” Ong said during an interview. “I was surprised when my name was called for the overall champion.”

The 28-year-old Saipan Tribune employee edged 2004 champion Jose Ngiraibuuch in a tie-breaking pose down after the two garnered identical scores from the judges during the overall bodybuilding champion competition.

The overall competition featured the winners of the three divisions.

Ong was crowned champion of the Middleweight Division, while former basketball standout Ronald Delos Reyes placed runner-up and Weng Sheng Wang took second runner-up.

For his part, Ngiraibuuch made it to the finals after taking top honors in the Light Middleweight Division, while Harvey Simpson placed first runner-up.

Joining Ong and Ngiraibuuch in the finals was running back extraordinaire Jeffrey Boyer, who won first place in the Lightweight Division. Placing first runner-up was 25-year-old Sibley Santos, while Daniel Quitugua took home the second runner-up trophy.

The three winners engaged in a pose down, and after tabulating all scores from the judges, it was Ong and Ngiriaibuuch that ended up with a tie.

The two then flexed their biceps and triceps, and flashed their firm abs, among others, for judges before Ong was crowned as the champion.

“I was nervous when they said it was a tie, but I was still confident that I can win,” Ong said.” I wasn’t tired…I was still feeling good.”

For his part, Ngiraibuuch said he was proud of his performance and vied to work hard for next year’s competition.

“It was a good competition and I had a really good time,” he said. “I’m still in good shape and will push more next year. John March improved and I’m glad for him,” he said.

Ngiraibuuch recently competed in the 2005 XTERRA Saipan Championships and Tagaman Triathlon and began preparing for the competition just a month and a half ago.

Ong was also presented with the Most Improved Body Builder trophy.

“I would like to thank my wife Debbie, my son D.J., my brother Chris, Saipan Tribune, Gold’s Gym, and all my friends and supporters,” Ong said. “I appreciate everything.”

Other competitors include Johnny Santiago and Alfredo Rebong Jr., both competing in the Lightweight Division.

Judges include former congressman Andrew Salas, Diane Clayton, Joseph Santos, Dr, John Joyner, and Josephine Ichihara.

Meanwhile, NMBBF president Josephine C. Togawa-Plinske, who also served as the chief judge, expressed her satisfaction with the turnout of the competition.

“I am very pleased with the competition and pleased with the show of support from the crowd,” she said shortly after the event. “I am pleased with the competitors…it’s very difficult to stay on a program and to prepare. It just shows their commitment. I can’t even find the words to truly express how I feel.”

The co-owner of Gold’s Gym also stressed that the federation hopes to expand the sport of bodybuilding in the Commonwealth and generate enough interest from many other potential competitors, especially because of the wide range of ethnic groups.

Togawa-Plinske also disclosed that another competition—South Pacific Body Building Championships—will be held this October in Tahiti and hopes to send an athlete from the Commonwealth to compete.

“We use to send [athletes] before, but [location] too far and so the expense is so much, but we hope to send an athlete this October,” she said.