Southeast Asian (SEA) Games bronze medalist Arland Macasieb and fellow national teammate Ani De Leon wasted no time in claiming their respective titles in the 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run Olympic distance event.

Macasieb and De Leon earned slots to the national team that would compete in the Asian Triathlon Championship in China and the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

The 30-year-old Macasieb made up for his slow start in the final run leg and clocked two hours and 11.17 minutes for back-to-back titles in the men’s division.

De Leon took the spotlight in the distaff side with a time of two hours and 27.33 minutes.

"It was a hard-earned victory," said Macasieb, who won his first NTC crown in 2001. "I had to come out really aggressive to win this event."

Trailing behind seasoned athlete and early leader Noel Salvador in the swim and bike courses with over 10 minutes, Macasieb gave it all in the final run leg to pull off the come-from-behind win.

Bacolod bet Salvador struggled to catch up with Macasieb but could only finish second with two hours and 12.37 minutes.

Hiroshi Takei placed third in two hours and 13.55 minutes.

De Leon drew strength from RP teammate Sandra Araullo for the win.

"I really owe it to Sandra (Araullo). We’ve been helping each other all throughout the race but it was tough because the present junior triathletes have improved a lot," the 30-year-old De Leon said.

"Coming into this tournament, I wasn’t really pressured at all. When I saw the course the night before, I had a pretty good feeling about it and expected that I can pull off a win," she added.

Araullo, who won the silver in last month’s SEAG, timed two hours and 28.02 minutes to settle for second place.

Junior national triathlon team member Lea Coline Langit came in third in two hours and 33.12 minutes.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Joash Serrano topped the male sprint distance with one hour and 11.03 minutes.

Carlo Angelo Quiogue (1:11.59) and Andrew Gatmaitan (1:13.11) took second and third seats, respectively.

In the female division, Kim Mangrobang timed one hour and 21.36 minutes for the top spot while Angela Alon-Along (1:25.04) and Ana Gatmaitan (1:26.49) assumed second and third places, respectively.