Cebu Blue Marlins rule Aquamundo swimfest

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Blue Marlins sent their visitors weeping as they dominated with authority the 1st Aquamundo Swimfest with a total of 4, 426 points the other day at the Cebu City Sports Center. Overall, the host club raked in a total of 19 golds, 11 silvers and a dozen bronzes.

Spearheading Cebu's second wave of gold-medal harvest were Joyce Huguete, Fritz Tamara, Anthony Linn Navarro, Isias Gabunada, Romylin Ignacio and Aimee Sanchez.

Among those who earlier spotlighted the Blue Marlins' golden showing were Paula Abigail Vega, Lyh Ann Navarro,Beth Mae Arellano, Michael Ichiro Kong, Renan Gabriel Tapang and Noel Caneda, came up with two more golds each plus two other golds in the relay events.

So dominant the Blue Marlins were that even the combined output of the 10 other competing clubs wouldn't deter them from ascending the championship throne.

Silliman University of Dumaguete City placed second with 541 points followed by the Bohol Dolphins.

The Dipolog Blue Marlins finished fourth overall with 424 points, while the Negros Oriental Blue Dolphins wound up fifth with 420 points.

The sixth to the 11th placers were the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) with 345 points, Tepanee Beach Resort Swim team with 178, Cebu International School with (173, Abellana National School with 150, Cebu Baby Dolphins with 63 and the Sea Knights Swim Club with 54 points.

As an added icing to their victory cake, five of CBM's bets were named "Most Outstanding Swimmer"in their respective categories.

Michael Ichiro Kong dominated the boys 9-10 class, while Lyh Ann Navarro ruled the distaff side after they swept five golds each.

Beth May Arellano and Fritz Tamara were the standout performers in the 11-12 division, with Arellano picking up four golds and a bronze and Tamara collecting four golds and a silver.

Paula Abigail Vega stole part of the limelight as she emerged the brightest tanker in the girls 17-above level with three golds, one silver and one bronze.

The rest of the MOS awardees were NegOr’s Braile Cosgafa with five golds in the girls 8-under, BDST’s Junnel Montecino with three golds and two silvers in the boys 8-under, Silliman’s Maikela Marcene Solomon with three golds, two silvers and one bronze in the girls 13-14, James Gravador with three golds and two silvers in the boys 13-14, Sheena Rose Leduna with five golds in the girls 15-16, Bon Cecilio Academia with two golds and a silver in the boys 15-16 and Michael Jorolan with three golds and three silvers in the boys 17-above. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)