Dee Clayton Classic returns Saturday

The Mariana Islands Bodybuilding and Physique Dee Clayton Classic returns on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6:30pm and will be held at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan’s Charley’s Cabaret.

Alvin Rebong shows off his winning physique in the Marianas Muscle Bodybuilding Competition last March. Rebong will be one of the competitors in the Mariana Islands Bodybuilding and Physique Dee Clayton Classic on Saturday at the Pacific Island Club’s Charley’s Cabaret. (Jon Perez)

A pre-judging is scheduled at 7:30am also at the same venue for this year’s edition of the annual bodybuilding competition.

Organizer Dee Clayton said that there are already between 18 and 20 participants who registered to join the event.

“I still haven’t finalized the list. I have to check again but there are already 18-20 who signed up,” said Clayton, who is the Commonwealth Bodybuilding Federation vice president.

Clayton added that most of the competitors who signed up are in the same group that joined last year’s event.

Derek Cutting and Saipan World Resort gym instructor Alvin Rebong are among those who confirmed of joining the event.

Junior and open physique and figure and bodybuilding are the categories that will be contested again for this edition.

Last year, Gold’s Gym personal trainer Aaron Tomokane topped the figure and bodybuilding categories. He was the overall winner in the physique category in 2013.

Tomokane ruled the welterweight division then bested lightweight and bantamweight division champions Tristan Ecalnea and Jun Ming, respectively, to clinch the overall crown.

Jun Riodique finished second to Tomokane in the welterweight division, while Neil Ayson was the runner-up to Ecalnea in the lightweight class.

Gino Celis, George Pangelinan, and Nathaniel Cruz ended up as the Top 3 finishers in the 15 to 17 junior physique division, while Vince Aldan topped the open and overall physique categories besting Gerald Galang, Donivan Mendiola, Alberto Roberto, and John Nekaifes, who finished second, third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.

Ray Rueda, Nomar Arcangel, Ben Tobin, and 49-year-old Roland Vicencio were the Top 4 in the masters division. Chom Star Gordon topped the women’s bikini and physique class against Stephanie Yagi and last year’s Gold’s Gym Biggest Loser winner Mona Indalencio Corpuz.

The event was originally scheduled last September but was pushed back due to Typhoon Soudelor.

Those who are interested to join Saturday’s event have until Friday to sign up. For more information, call or text Clayton at 285-6112.