Cordero, Berino rule UAAP swim

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines bagged 13 gold medals as they provided the leadership for their respective schools in the UAAP swimming competitions last weekend at the TRACE College in Los Baños, Laguna.

Denjylie Cordero, 16, bagged five gold medals as she towed the Ateneo swimming team to a smashing start to win the rookie-of-the year award in the college division.

Coached by her father Dennis, Cordero took the gold in 100m breaststroke (1:16.4), 200m breaststroke (2:44.2), 50m breast (35.13), 200m individual medley (2:31.3) and 400m IM (5:18.5) and the silver in the 100m and 200m butterfly.

Gian Ong Berino, of UST High School, was the most outstanding in boys high school category, winning the gold in the 1,500m freestyle (17:21), 800m free, 400m free (4:20), 200m freestyle (2:03) and the silver medal in 200m and 400m individual medley.

Duncan Vinluan, also from UST HS, won the Rookie of the Year award by winning the silver in 1,500m, 800m, 400m, and 200m freestyle. Both are coached by Joey Andaya of ASAP.

Other ASAP winners were University of the Philippines’ Jackie Junio, who won gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke and Claire Adorn, who ruled the100m fly and 50m backstroke.

“We are proud of them,” said Susan Papa, ASAP secretary general, who is monitoring the performance of ASAP members in the swimming competitions in the UAAP and other leagues.