Caught in a rad bromance

MANILA, Philippines - It wasn’t love at first sight. Truth is, when Rich Herrera and Rich Hardin first met, they hated each other. Playing opposing teams in the American Football League, competition kept the Riches kept from happening. “Our team always used to beat up his,” Rich Herrera chides. But three years later, this now time-tested bromance has just nabbed top prize at Amazing Race Asia.

It wasn’t an easy trek to the top, of course. They broke a rule, made some bad decisions and ran into some bad luck towards the end. But when the dust settled, Hardin, a 34-year-old basketball player, and Herrera, a 31-year-old actor, beat nine other teams across 15 cities, eight countries and over 38,000 km, to clinch the top prize of $100,000.

In the end, it was the yin and yang of the Riches that pulled them through. “Hardin’s patience and my impatience strangely balanced us out in the last few legs,” Herrera explains. While prepping for this shoot, this dynamic is palpable. While Hardin cooly sits on the chair, waiting for the makeup artist to work her magic, Herrera is restless, tapping his foot and playing with his hair.

But when the photographer started snapping, the teamwork that won the race came to the fore. While Herrera was the showboat, flexing his muscles and enjoying the spotlight, Hardin was more reserved, providing the right counterflow for his partner’s energy. Where many formidable Filipino teams had failed, this dynamic conquered.

Starting from Malaysia, the duo raced through Sri Lanka, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore, to finally face off against the father-and-daughter team of Hussein and Natasha from Indonesia, and Singapore girls, Claire and Michelle, in the final leg. With less than 15 minutes separating the first and third team from kicking off the final leg, it was anybody’s game at that point. But with a determination that saw them take the top spot in two of the legs, and second placement in six of them, the Richards took home the prize.

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Relive the journey with the full season recap marathon starting 12:20 p.m. today, with repeats tomorrow. The Amazing Race Asia Season 4 is sponsored by Sony Electronics Asia Pacific, Caltex, Axiata Group, as well as official hotel partner Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Name: Rich Hardin

Age: 34

I joined Amazing Race because… Herrera asked me to make an audition tape with him. I never really thought it would happen, but he was dead serious.

I met my Amazing Race partner…about three years ago. We knew of each other for about seven years but never really talked. We were actually rival football players.

What I look for in an Amazing Race partner: Someone fast, open-minded and can put up with my non-stop ability to go, go, go!

Best thing about my partner: His ability to focus on one thing really, really well and finish quickly. I tend to focus on too many things at the same time.

Worst thing about my partner: His manly stubbornness on finding certain locations with a map and not wanting to pull over.

What are non-negotiables? don’t ever give up and never expect anything until Allen Wu says you’re the last team to arrive.

I went to The Amazing Race and all I got was… an experience of a lifetime!

With my Amazing Race winnings, I’m going to… make a difference.

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Name: Richard Herrera

Age: 31

I joined Amazing Race because… A mutual friend of ours suggested we make an audition video. He always said we should have a TV show together and call it The Riches.

I met my Amazing Race partner... Playing in an American Football league here. Our team always used to beat up his.

What I look for in an Amazing Race partner: Someone who doesn’t sleep much and is able to understand my weird quirks.

Best thing about my partner: His patience and his ability to think things out.

Worst thing about my partner: His crankiness with hunger and lack of sleep.

What are non-negotiables? Hustle at all times and save our money as much as possible.

I went to The Amazing Race and all I got was… An uneven tan.

With my Amazing Race winnings, I’m going to… bury it underneath the kitchen floorboards like Scott Glenn did in Training Day.