Philippines: The gloves are coming off for Team Philippines

PHILIPPINES (December 12, 2016) - The penultimate episode starts with all four teams taking a 14-hour train to Banyuwangi in Indonesia. On the way there, all four teams muse on their journey so far and what they have to do to get to the final three. Eric & Rona, Parul & Maggie and Yvonne & Chloe are seeing Treasuri & Louisa as the only threat to them getting to the final three.

 “Everyone has to fight for the first spot and we will do whatever we can,” says Eric, not giving up.

 “Being Filipinos, we have a pact with Eric & Rona. We were strategizing on how we can make it to the top 3,” say Maggie & Parul, hatching a plan.

In Banyuwangi, teams must head to Sanggar Genjah Arum to find Master Setiawan, the coffee brew master. When the teams arrive, they find out that the venue is closed and they all have to wait until the next morning.

The next morning, Yvonne & Chloe are the first to enter the coffee house. In a refreshing change of pace, the teams just have to have a cup of coffee with Master Setiawan before receiving the route info, which is to make their way to the top of Kawah Ijen and search for their next clue. The teams are warned that there’s a Yield ahead and they start to speculate who will be using it.

In Kawah Ijen, teams must hike 3km to the top for their Detour task. The hike proves to be very physical as the teams are slowed down.

“I can’t feel my toes! I can’t feel my toes! I need to feel my toes!” Rona can’t feel her toes.

Once they reach the top, Yield is waiting for the teams to use. To use Yield, one team forces another to stop racing for a predetermined amount of time. The team must flip the hourglass and wait until it runs out before continuing with the Race.

Yvonne & Chloe are the first to reach the top but they decide not to use the Yield on any of the teams.

Parul & Maggie are the second team to arrive at the top and they spare no time putting Treasuri & Louisa’s names on the Yield board.

“If you peaked too early and you keep coming in first all the time, you are gonna get a target on your back. Unfortunately, you’re Treasuri & Louisa and that’s what happened,” Maggie & Parul, comment, taking off the gloves.

Treasuri & Louisa are disappointed but not surprised to see their names on the board.

In this Roadblock – “Who can crush it?” - One team member must harvest and pack slates of bright yellow Sulphur. Once they collect, smash and pack 80kg, the Sulfur farmer will give them their next clue.

Parul, Eric, Yvonne and Louisa participate in this task. Muscly Eric smashes through the task, while petite Parul completes it too, making them the first two teams to head to their next location. Yvonne struggles with the task but they are the third to make it, leaving Louisa behind.

“Look at her! She’s a frigging beast, she’s so tough!” Maggie says, extremely proud of Parul.

Once they are done with the Sulphur task, teams must make their way to Kecamatan Glagah, a farming village, and search for their next clue. Teams are also warned that there’s a U-Turn ahead.

Teams have the option of using a U-Turn on another team in this leg. Teams that are U-Turned must complete the other Detour task that they didn’t choose. Each team can only use their U-Turn once in the entire Race, so they must decide wisely and strategically. 

Since Eric & Rona arrive first, they quickly decide to put up Louisa & Treasuri for the U-Turn.

In this Detour, teams must choose between “Dragon Horse” and “Human Bulls.” In “Dragon Horse,” teams must successfully complete the dressing of the Jaran Kencak, a colorfully decorated, wedding ceremony horse. When the Jaren Kencak master approves, teams ride with the wedding procession to receive their clue from the Bride and Groom. In “Human Bulls,” Teams must successfully move a mound of rice husks from one side of a muddy rice field to the other and avoid getting bullied by the Kebo-keboan (men dressed as bulls).

Eric & Rona and Parul & Maggie decide on “Dragon Horse” while Yvonne & Chloe and Treasuri & Louisa decide to go for “Human Bulls.”

The teams doing “Dragon Horse” have a few failed attempts when they don’t pay enough attention to the details but the teams at “Dragon Bulls” have it worse as they have to run back and forth to avoid the Kebo-Keboan. Both teams flare up and lose their temper after getting slammed by the Kebo-Keboan one too many times.

With pure determination, Treasuri & Louisa is the first team to finish a Detour task. Unfortunately, they have to wait until Eric & Rona and Parul & Maggie finish their task before they can continue with the U-Turn. 

After the Detour, teams must head to Kalibendo Coffee Factory where teams must empty a 100kg bag of coffee beans into a coffee drying area and then find colored coffee beans bearing the letters: P- I - T – S - T- O – P.

Eric & Rona are the first team to complete this task and they rush to the Pit Stop. Parul & Maggie are the second team to leave for the Pit Stop, despite their driver losing his way, and they are the second team to reach the Pit Stop.

In almost a neck-to-neck race to the Pit Stop, Yvonne & Chloe arrive in third place leaving Treasuri & Louisa fourth place.

Despite being Yielded and U-Turned, Treasuri & Louisa almost catch up but unfortunately they are the last team to arrive and are eliminated.

Coming up in the season finale, in a frantic game of constant passing, Eric & Rona, Parul & Maggie and Yvonne & Chloe keep us guessing until the very end. Who will be the winner of The Amazing Race Asia 5?

The final episode of The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 airs next Thursday at 9pm on AXN. The series is supported by presenting sponsor Wonderful Indonesia, and partners Garuda Indonesia, Grab and Great Eastern.

Join the action and connect with Allan, Tara and the 22 racers via: #AXNTARA and @TheAmazingRaceAsia