Jake Cuenca: No time to find Star Magic Ball date

MANILA, Philippines — It was 2015 when Jake Cuenca last brought a date, his then on-and-off girlfriend Sarah Grace Kelley, to Star Magic Ball.

Last year, he hit the red carpet solo, and he does not mind doing it again this year.

“I had a suit made, and I’m ready to go to see everyone,” he shared in an interview Thursday afternoon with Philstar.com.

Though dateless, he said he still looks forward to Star Magic Ball every year.

“What I look forward to every year is seeing everyone in one room together, catching up with old friends, just enjoying.”

Even not for Star Magic Ball, he said he is too busy at the moment for dating. “I’m currently busy with my shows, with ‘Panday,’ so there's just no time for it.”

Besides Star Magic Ball, Jake bonds with his fellow actors on the racetrack. Jake and his “Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin” co-stars Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson are very active in triathlon, marathons and duathlons.

“We race every weekend. That’s my second priority after showbiz because I stay fit and healthy through triathlon,” said Jake, who did Ironman with Kim and Gerald twice. They have also blocked off dates to race together again in October and in November.

Last Thursday afternoon, Jake has been named a member of Team Saucony’s Team De Rosa triathlon team, which is also formed by Philippine National Team elite athletes Caleb Barlin, Julius Constantino, Edward Macalalad; age groupers and consistent podium finishers Mark Jhon Malolot, Ryan Laurino, Kenneth Tan; and business owners Charlson Lim and Anthony Cu.

Jake’s Team De Rosa will face Matteo Guidicelli’s Team Ford Forza, led by businessman Gianluca Guidicelli and Matteo’s sister, entrepreneur Giorgia Guidicelli. The team also includes cancer survivor Joey Torres, longtime triathlete Elmo Clarabal, businessmen Ian Solana and Romeo Castro, 2013 Pinoy Big Losers participants and brothers Ralph David and Christian Du, sports enthusiasts Patricia Espino, Donikko Fernan and Christian Saladaga.

Other celebrities under Team Saucony are rock stars Ebe Dancel and Yael Yuzon and model-actor Victor Basa. These stars, along other members, have been chosen to be part of the team as they reportedly embody the brand’s belief in the transformational power of running, thereby inspiring the running community to be the heroes of their own journey.

Team Saucony celebrity triathlon members Jake Cuenca, Victor Basa and Ebe Dancel. Philstar.com/Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo