SLP-PH tankers, kargado ng 61 medalya

Humakot  ang Swimming League Philippines-Team Philippines (SLP-PH) nang kabuuang 61 medalya, kabilang ang 16 na ginto para makopo ang ikatlong puwesto sa overall medal standings sa Asian Open Schools Invitational Aquatics Championships kamakailan sa Bangkok, Thailand.

Pinangunahan ng 5-anyos at tinaguriang bagong ‘swimming wonder’ ng bansa na si Pia Severina Magat ang ratsada ng 32-man Philippine squad sa napagwagiang pitong gintong medalya at tanghaling Most Outstanding Swimming sa  7-under age female categorysa torneo na nilahukan ng kabuuang 980 swimmers mula sa 57 swimming clubs sa rehiyon.

Pinahanga ng pambato ng Sharkpeedo Swim club ni coach Bryan Estipono at kinder student ng St. Joseph’s School of Novaliches, Quezon City ang manonood sa kanyang impresibong panalo sa 50m freestyle (59.56 seconds), 50m backstroke (57.91), 50m butterfly (1:19.34), 50m breaststroke (1:29.45), 100m freestyle (2:12.45), 100m backstroke (2:09.12), at 100m breaststroke (3:15.23) events.

“Hindi na ako nasopresa sa kanya (Pia). Dedicated siya sa kanyang training at talagang ginagawa ang makakaya kahit sa mga sinalihan niyang division meet sa atin. Basta focus lang kami sa training, yun lang muna ang target lagging personal best,” sambit ni Estipona, dating varsity sa University of the Santo Tomas.

Bukod kay Magat, nasungkit din ni Galvin Cayanan ang MOS title sa boys’ 7 years old and under category sa napagwagihang  tatlong ginto, tatlong silver at dalawang bronze medals, habang  nanguna sa girls 12-13 yers class si Kyla Louise Bulaga sa kanyang panalo sa  200m at 400m Individual Medley, 400m freestyle events, habang silver sa (200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke at 4x50m medley relay),at bronze medals sa 50m at 100m butterfly, at 4x100m freestyle relay).

Nagpahayag ng kasiyahan si SLP president Fred Galang sa naging performance ng mga batang swimmers na aniya’y pawang nanguna sa kani-kanilang events sa isinagawang qualifying meet para sa torneo sa bawat torneo ng SLP.

“We’re very proud. Yung performance nila talagang tuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas. Hopefully, as SLP continued to strengthen the grassroots program through tournaments around the provinces, mas marami pa tayong tagumpay na makukuha sa abroad,” pahayag ni  Ancheta.

Ang iba pang nakapag-uwi ng medalya ay sina Ryiah Zach Belen na may dalawang ginto (50m at 100m backstroke), isang silver silver (200m backstroke) at isang bronze  (100m freestyle); Gerice Oyaman na may isang silver (4x50m medley relay) at dalawang  bronze  (50m freestyle at  4x100m freestyle relay); Ryzie Danielle Belen na may silver (4x50m medley relay) at dalawang bronze  bronze (400m freestyle at  4x100m freestyle relay); at Paul Vincent Ocampo na may dalawang bronze (4x50m medley relay at 4x100m freestyle relay).

Humirit din sina Riannah Coleman (1 gold, 2 silvers, 5 bronzes), Fritz Gabriele Espero (1 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronzes), Samantha Gabuni (1 gold, 2 bronzes), Sara Santiago (2 bronzes), Angel Magdalene Gabuni (2 bronzes), Gerald Cayanan (1 bronze), at  Dwayne Angelo Gabuni (1 bronze). (CARD)