‘Manda’ tankers foil Ilustre’s sweep try

MANILA, Philippines - Mandaluyong foiled Muntinlupa’s Maurice Sacho Ilustre’s bid for a golden sweep as it snatched the high school boys 4x100-meter freestyle relay gold at the close of the National Capital Region swimming competitions at the Rizal Memorial pool yesterday.

Anchored by Miguel Barlisan, the 2014 Palarong Pambansa 2014 100-meter freestyle champions clocked three minutes, 49.31 seconds to rule the event while relegating Ilustre and the Muntinlupa bets to silver medal finish with a 3:53.50 clocking. Las Piñas City took the bronze in 3:57.47.   

Ilustre earlier ruled the high school boys 200m free in 2:00.82 and the 200m fly in 2:10.47 for his fifth and six consecutive gold medals in the sportsfest hosted by Parañaque, which is celebrating its 17th anniversary of cityhood today.

“It was hard but to catch up but I am still happy about my performance,” said  Ilustre, who was the outstanding secondary male athlete in last year’s Palaro in Laguna where he won all of his seven swimming events.

Seth Isaak Martin of Parañaque boosted his total to five golds yesterday as he topped the elementary boys 50m free (27.43) and 200m individual medley (2:32.16). He, however, fell one gold short of a perfect outing after the Parañaque squad wound up fourth in the 4x50m individual medley relay last Wednesday.

“I’m satisfied with my performance, which was better than last year,” said the 5-foot-11 12-year-old Martin, who won two golds and two bronze medals in last year’s NCR Palaro.

Manila’s Jude Ong also saw her unbeaten run end late Wednesday when she finished second in the elementary girls 50m back but added her fourth gold in clinching the 50 free in 29.10 seconds.

Over at the Marikina Sports Park oval, Manila took top honors in three divisions in the 400m race.

Manila’s John Robertson Madayag topped the high school boys run in 53.1 seconds while teammate Therese Ellah Sirilan dominated the distaff side in 1:00.4. Sally Callos bagged the gold in the elementary girls (1:05.1).

Mandaluyong’s Michael Alporque captured the gold medal in the elementary boys 400m run in 59.875.

Muntinlupa won a gold medal each in elementary school discus throw from Precious Artieda, who had a throw of 31.49 meters, and Kharl Bejuela in the elementary boys long jump with leap of 4.89 meters.

Manila’s Jose Carlo Arribas secured the gold in the high school boys triple jump with a 31.49m effort.