11-year-old Champs for Joy bet shines in PSL swim meet

MANILA, Philippines - An 11-year-old product of the Champs for Joy program of Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte made waves in his first competition, winning three gold medals in a glittering performance in the 31st leg of the Philippine Swim League Age Group Circuit yesterday at the Diliman Preparatory School (DPS).

Paul Cusing, who had been swimming for only three months after joining Vice Mayor Belmonte’s swimming program for QC kids last summer, won in the 50m freestyle with a time of 33 seconds, the 50m breaststroke in 42 seconds and the 50m backstroke in 41 seconds. He was trained by PSL national coaches Edgar Galeno, Tin Sudario and Erika Bacunawa.

The Susan Papa Swim Academy also produced gold medalists in swimmers Gabriel Labasan (6 years), Jaz Villanueva (7) and Felix Zerrudo (10) , who were trained by Al Papa under the SPSA learn-to-swim program that started two months ago.

Other winners were Francesca Israel, Chloe Fabic and Jesreel Francisco (10), who clocked 34 seconds in the 50m freestyle. The age-groupers, coached by Joey Andaya, are all moving up to the next level.

St. Jude’s Manila Torpedoes, with 35 swimmers, garnered the most number of medals.

Former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, DPS president and chief executive officer, presented the awards to winners from more than 300 participants from Baguio, Bicol, Cavite, Angeles, Antipolo, Caloocan, Navotas, Marikina, Pampanga, Mindoro and NCR.

The PSL continues its developmental program with its participation in international competitions, including the Philippines-China goodwill swim meet in Fujian, China next month.