GREG ANTHONY MUYONG and Marcus Caleb Pablo grabbed two gold medals each as the Congress of the Philippine Aquatics Inc. (COPA) celebrated the return of the Novice Swim Meet on Saturday at the Teofilo Ildefonso Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Muyong, 15 and swimming out of Green Blasters Swim Club, topped the boys’ 14 years old Class A 50-meter freestyle event in 27.90 seconds and the 100m individual medley in 1:09.90, while Pablo of Aquaknights won the six years old category’s in 50m freestyle in 57.41 and 25m breastroke in 28.91.
COPA founder, Batangas First District Rep.. Eric Buhain ,along with coach Chito Rivera and Richard Luna, awarded the medals to the winners.
Buhain delivered an inspirational message particularly the young swimmers from public schools who dream of joining competitive tournaments despite having little or no access at all to competition pools.
“There shouldn’t be stumbling blocks to your dreams, you should improve at every tournament,,” Buhain, a two -time Olympian and a multiple gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games, told the student swimmers.
Games multi-medalist.
Buhain’s record six SEA Games gold medals he won on the very same pool remains unbroken. And he laments that.
“Eric Buhain is sad because after so many years, my record remains and from your ranks, I am hopeful that one or several of you will someday break my record,” said Buhain, a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission and Games and Amusements Board.
Rivera, head coach of Jose Rizal University varsity team, said that it was Buhain’s idea and mission to strengthen swimming’s grassroots program particularly students in public schools.
The other winners in the meet also supported by Speedo were Roderick Gonzalvo (Class A, 50m free, 27.30), Matthew Paz (Class B, 38.70) and Elijah Manalili (Class C, 40.82) in the 13 years old class.
The winners in the 14 years old division were Daniel Karl Glory (50m, Class B, 36.40) and Dannish Londob (Class C, 39.40), and in the boys’ 15 years old 50m free were Alvin Marticion (Class A, 25.80), Carl Malbas (Class B, 33.30), Jhonny Mendoza and Roldan Seiga (Class C, 37.40).
Ruling the were
Caleb Immanuel Pascia (31.31) ruled the 25m breaststroke event in the seven years old class, Kurt Exebia (1:27) topped the boys’ 11 years old 100m individual medley and Rodevic Gonzavo (1:05.40) won the boys’ 14 years old division.
Also on the winners’ list were Benjie Manto (boys 6 years old, 50m free, 57.41), Achilles Calingo (boys 7, 58.98), Brennan Batchao (boys 8, Class A, 27.33), Nathan Bayron (Class C, 37.80), Kai Mangubat (boys 10, breast, Class A, 21.54), Yuan de la Cruz (Class B, 24.60), John Catindig (Class C, 27.50), Clarez Layos (11, breast, Class A, 21.30), Kurt Exebia (Class B, 22.70) and Corvin McMeans (Class C, 27.00).