Ilustre claims COPA Golden Goggle crown

MANILA, Philippines — Team Ilustre East Aquatic collected 30 gold medals including 17 in the BiFin event and claimed the overall championship at the close of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA) Golden Goggle 3rd and 4th legs at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Compex.

After leading the team to 21 gold hauls on opening day Saturday, national junior record holder in boys 13-under Jamesray Mishael Ajido won four more, three in BiFin as Team Ilustre accumulated 4,682 points in the event powered by Speedo and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Milo. The 14-year-old bested his opponents in the BiFin 100 freestyle, 200m free (1:56.15) and 50m free (22.80). The Grade 7 student from Montessori Integrated School-Antipolo copped a fourth gold in winning the 100m backstroke in the regular swim event.

Other multiple gold medal winners in BiFins under Team Ilustre were Zoe Adrienne Terrible, Yoana Ysabelle Bersamin, Rio Rafaella Balbuena and Andrina Rose Victor. Contributing in the team’s runaway win were Luke Amber Arano, Allyssa Cabatian, Ethan Dulin, Claine Lim and Ruth Sula.