Tomokane, Valdez stand out

Aaron Tomokane had a triumphant return, while Enrico Valdez made it two in a row as they ruled their respective divisions in the 2016 Dee Clayton Classic held last Saturday at the Charley’s Cabaret of the Pacific Islands Club.

Tomokane, who missed last year’s competition after reigning supreme in the 2014 tournament, topped the middleweight division of the bodybuilding contest and also took the overall championship in the same category, beating Stanley Iakopo, Donivan Mendiola, and former winner Jun Riodique.

The 23-year-old Tomokane was also adjudged best poser, while Mendiola gained the best abs award and was ranked second in the middleweight category. Iakopo, who debuted in the Dee Clayton Classic, finished first in the welterweight division, edging Riodique.

“I would like to thank all the people who helped and supported me this year when I started training again. It was hard to get back in shape after not competing last year,” said Tomokane, who will next prepare for a tournament in Thailand before taking another break to have more time to train newcomers.

Meanwhile, in the physique open category, Valdez bested six other participants to bag the overall championship. He also earned the top spot in the open physical tall class, defeating Vicente Aldan, and got the best poser award anew. The Joeten Shopping Center employee prevailed in the same competition last year, downing Alberto Roberto and Ben Tabin.

In the open physical short class, Lorenzo Sanchez defeated three other entries and also clinched the best abs award. Vicente Salas II, Eun Sook Cho, and Roberto were ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively. Sean Japor also joined the competition and was named winner in the teen physique category.

In the women’s division, Anna Manibusan and Jennifer Cui split the top honors in the two categories.

Cui, who placed second to Chomstar Gordon last year, brought home the first place medal in the figure category this time, while Manibusan settled for the runner-up honors. Manibusan then took center stage when she won the bikini open division against Cui and Tona Lizama, who claimed the teen bikini award.

Musclemania Antelope Valley champion Grady Gray and Guam champion bodybuilder Mike Duay, Joy Yumul, and Jonas Barcinas were the judges of the weekend contest organized by Dee Clayton. The two bodybuilders along with Miss Teen Marianas runner-up Nicole Meyers also presented the awards to the winners.