Dula leads Philippine top swimmers in Dubai meet

MANILA, Philippines — Masville Elementary School-Parañaque’s Marc Bryan Dula led the country’s 14-gold, 12-silver, two-bronze medal haul on the opening day of the 2018 Hamilton Aquatics Winter Long Course Swimming Championships at the Hamilton Aquatics Center in Dubai.

Dula, the reigning Philippine Swimming League (PSL) Male Swimmer of the Year, stamped his class in the boys’ 11-year division by winning four gold medals against tall and older rivals.

He opened his campaign with an impressive showing in the 50m backstroke, submitting 32.85 seconds to outclass Indian Utkarsh Gor (33.02) and European Brydan Byrne (35.65).

Dula continued to dominate his division with gold-medal performances in the 100m butterfly (1:07.63), 200m butterfly (2:36.17) and 200m backstroke (2:35.55) in the tournament featuring 500 tankers from some 20 countries.

Dula next plunges into action in the 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 200m Individual Medley and 50m freestyle.

Palarong Pambansa most bemedalled swimmer Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh of Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Parañaque copped three golds – in the girls’ 12-year, 200m IM (2:31.81), 100m breaststroke (1:19.09) and 50m butterfly (30.17) while John Alexander Talosig added two golds (200m freestyle, 2:07.22, and 400m IM, 5:00.95) in boys’ 14-years.

Other gold medal winners were Marcus De Kam in 13-years 200m freestyle (2:10.00) and 100m freestyle (58.84); Albert Sermonia II, 12 years, 200m butterfly (2:30.92),  and Francisco Cordero III (12-years 50m breaststroke (32.93) and Yohan Mikhail Cabana (13-years 50m backstroke, 31.64)

“Our swimmers performed well in the opening day. We are hoping to win more on the second day. Our counterparts are very happy that our swimmers are swimming with them competitively. They saw potentials in our swimmers that’s why they love inviting us,” said PSL president Susan Papa.

The other medal winners were Mervien Jules Mirandilla (two silvers in the boys’ 16-year 200m butterfly, 2:13.99, and 100m butterfly, 58.49), Jie Angela Talosig (two silvers in the girls’ 12-year 50m freestyle, 29.81, and 100m breaststroke, 1:21.20, and two bronzes in the 200m breaststroke, 2:58.19, and 200m IM, 2:36.83), and Lawrence Jacob Arabes (boys’ 17-year 200m btterfly, 2:26.09) and Kiara Eroy (girls’ 13-year 50m butterfly, 32.29) with one silver apiece.