UP bags overall title in All-Star Challenge; Baguio tanker cops four golds

MANILA, Philippines - The University of the Philippines drew five golds from its varsity swimmers to claim the Challenge Trophy in the college division while a Baguio City swimmer showed great promise with a strong finish in the 100m butterfly at the close of competitions in the All-Stars National Students Swimming Challenge yesterday at the Rizal Memorial swimming pool.

The UP team, overall champion in the UAAP, came away with five gold medals from Dalire Adorna, Nikita Dacera and Orpheus Magbanlac to emerge the collegiate overall champion in the competition staged by the Philippine Swimmng League and the Diliman Preparatory School.

San Sebastian College took the high school division trophy through gold medal efforts of Samuel Gregory Onjoco.

Jeron Mercader, who earned three gold medals on the first day, annexed his fourth gold medal overall in the 100m butterfly where his time of 1:01.3 installed him as a strong contender for a slot in the national team to be trained by the Philippine Swimming League under Susan Papa and Diliman Preparatory School under former Sen. Nikki Coseteng.

Skyler Claveria of UST showed his prowess in all his breaststroke events, clocking 33.00 in the 50m, 1:13.8 in 100m and 2:40.00 in 200m.

Christen Mercado, 15-year-old from Maranatha School, struck gold in the 50 meters of the freestyle (25.3 sec). backstroke (28sec) and breaststroke (31sec).

Elementary students who competed side by side with high school students were Portia Kate Doragos (11), Suzane Himor (12), Sean Terence Zamora (11), Maurice Ilustre (11) and Rafael Barreto (12). They won medals despite their age disadvantage.

The competition is the first of a two-stage elimination that will select the national team that will compete in the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, Russia.

Papa said she would announce next week the list of 62 candidate swimmers who will compete in the final selection on Aug. 23.

The event is supported by the Department of Education, Department of Health, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ricardo Garcia, Cafe Lupe, Just Thai, Nicorija Construction, Material Solution Inc., Develop Pinoy Swim and Waterfront Hotel Manila.