Cebu Blue Marlins shine in G-League swimfest

MANILA, Philippines - The Cebu Blue Marlins, powered by Cebu's top junior swimmers from different schools, emerged as the overall champion in the first leg of the 2013 SPEEDO G-League Long Course Swimming Championships the other day in Iloilo City.

CBM led by coach Rolando Alvarez bested eight other swimming clubs to dominate the two-day event with a total of 578 points. Nautilus Swim Club settled for second place with 547 points, while the Iloilo Sea Warriors ended up third with 496 points. Capiz finished fourth with 366 points followed by Bago City Swim Club with 314.

16-year-old Timothy Yen of La Jolla County Day School of California lived up to CBM's expectations as he fished out five golds via the 100m and 400m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 200m backstroke and 200m butterfly.

University of Cebu's Michael Ichiro Kong contributed four golds and a silver, while Trina Caneda took away one silver and four bronzes.

The Indaya siblings Karen Mae and Jobert connived for three golds, one silver and three bronzes, Shane Allyne Preja won gold, silver and bronze, while Emma Alexandite Duroy chipped in one gold, two silvers and a bronze.

Beth May Arellano grabbed three golds and two silvers, Danielle Mae Ballesteros had two golds and two silvers, Bright Academy's Jehaosh Reign Garrido handed one gold and two silvers, while St.Theresa's College's Justine Reign Garrido snared one gold and a bronze.

Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu's Val Andre Chiu also made a big impact with four golds and a silver.

University of San Carlos-North's Aaron Grant Embuscado ended his bid with one gold, one silver and three bronzes, while Tara Kyle Ebon of USC-South Campus snared three silvers and a bronze. Maternelle Academy's Rafael John Dacaldacal delivered a gold and a bronze.

Tabunok's Micah Marie de la Serna also proved her worth to be part of the CBM fold after chipping in two golds, two silvers and a bronze.

CBM sealed its bid with one gold and one silver from the 4x50m relay behind the efforts of Michael Ichiro Kong, Val Andre Chiu, Timothy Yen and Aaron Grant Embuscado for the gold and Trina Caneda, Danielle Mae Ballesteros, Micah Marie Dela Serna and Karen Mae Indaya for the silver. (FREEMAN)