SWIMMERS IN ACTION-- Tankers from various provinces compete at the Athletic Bowl in the 2018 Batang Pinoy games in Baguio City on Thursday (Sept. 20, 2018). (Primo Agatep)
BAGUIO CITY – Markus Johanne De Kam on Thursday struck his third gold in swimming and powered Lucena City’s 13-4-1 (gold-silver-bronze) medal output in the pool competition of the 2018 Batang Pinoy National Championships here.
De Kam capped his third gold when he ruled the boys’ 200 meter freestyle, clocking 2:10.03 seconds. He beat Johan Carlo Aguilen of La Union with a time of 2:16.68 who landed second place; and Brent Dave Cadelino of Laguna Province for the third place.
De Kam’s victories that contributed to Lucena city medal haul were in the 100-meter freestyle and 50-meter backstroke.
Mervien Jules Mirandilla, who topped the boys’ 200 butterfly, and John Neil Paredes who ruled the boys’ 100m backstroke also contributed to Lucena City’s onslaught in the pool.
Mirandilla submitted a time of 2:13.12 for the gold. She beat Kenji Arguzon of Dasmarinas City who took the silver while the bronze went to Gabriel Azurin of Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Paredes clocked 1:04.94 for the elusive gold, defeating Alaric Justin Conlu of Baguio City and Seth Isaac Martin of Quezon City for the silver and bronze honors.
Runner-up Laguna Province, which tallied 13-2-6 (gold-silver-bronze), banked on the heroics of John Marocenel Alagon, Roshanne Ysabelle Biglete and Roz Ciarale Encarnacion for their final assault in the pool.
Alagon captured the gold in the 100m backstroke, Biglete triumphed in the 100m backstroke while Encarnacion topped the 100m breaststroke.
Laguna’s boys quartet also highlighted the final day of competition when they topped the 200m freestyle 4x50m relay, defeating the teams from Baguio City and Dipolog City.
Zoe Marie Hilario and Althea Michel Baluyot won their respective events to highlight Quezon City’s 10-4-2 medal harvest.
Hilario won the 200m freestyle with a time of 2:17.73 seconds while Baluyot posted the best time in the 200m butterfly.
Puerto Princesa City had 7-8-1 (gold-silver-bronze) with the final smashing victories of Mary Sophia Manantan in the 100m breaststroke and anchored her team’s victory in the 200m freestyle 4x50m relay, posting the best time of 2:00.22.
They beat General Santos and Baguio City relay teams, which grabbed the silver and bronze honors, respectively.
Other top finishers were Aguilen of La Union who won the 400m freestyle; John Alexander Talosig of Cotabato City in the 400m freestyle; Krisha Joanna Apin of General Santos City in the 400m freestyle and Gabriel Manigque of Tagbilaran City for the 200m freestyle. (PNA)
