From a third place finish last year, the Cebu Blue Marlins made a remarkable improvement as it emerged as the overall champion in the 2008 Silliman Founder’s Day Age-Group Swimfest yesterday in Dumagauete City.
The wards of coach Rolando Alvarez put their acts together to come up with 1, 244 points coming from their 21 golds, 35 silvers and 40 bronzes.
CBM relegated host Silliman University Swim Club to second place with 1, 201 points, while Negros Oriental Blue Dolphins came out third with 1,077 points.
The fourth to eighth placers Zamboanga City (1,071), Negros Panaad (480), Kabangkalan City (116), Swim Club Goppingen (630) and the Blue Sharps (41).
Paula Abigail Vega of the University of Cebu was unstoppable as she grabbed four more golds via the100m butterfly, 200m freestyle, backstroke and the 400m freestyle. She also picked up a silver and a bronze.
All in all, Vega raked in eight golds, two silvers and a bronze, paving the way for her to become the Most Outstanding Swimmer in the girls 15-17 class.
Another CBM bet, Anthony Linn Navarro of Cebu Eastern College, was declared the best swimmer in the boys 9-10 category after clinching four golds, two silvers, and a bronze. He collected his golds in the 50m and 200m freestyle, and the 50m backstroke.
Anthony’s sister Lyh Ann also took one more gold via the 200m freestyle.
Beverly Vasig made valuable contribution to Cebu’s final assault in the two-day contest with two golds as well as Noel Cañeda and Joyce Huguete with golds in their respective events.
The other CBM medallists were Dnorie Joy Long, Matheus Ceasar Galo, Anthony Navarro II, Renan Gabriel Tapang, Kristina Angelika Torres, Aimee Sanchez, Arlette Baler, Romylyn Ignacio, Trina Caneda, Robin Jakobsen, Karen Mae Indaya, Rhys Michael and Rian Raphael Tapang. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol