Quezon City’s Rafael Sta. Maria came through with a pair of Triple A swims yesterday to share the spotlight with host Manila in the National Capital Region Qualifier in the third Philippine Olympic Festival at the Rizal swimming pool.
Sta. Maria, an 11-year-old La Salle-Greenhills pupil, clocked one minute and 2.64 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle and 1:13.08 in the 100m back stroke – both Triple A efforts – to deliver two golds for Quezon City, backed by Mayor Sonny Belmonte.
“That was impressive,” said Sta. Maria’s coach Ral Rosario, a former Olympian and RP aquatics secretary-general.
Manila, meanwhile, raised its gold medal haul to five after two days of competition, including four in the medal-rich swimming.
Monica Padilla bagged two golds in 100m back (1:23.13) and 100m freestyle (1:13.40) as she spearheaded the Big City bets’ early charge in the five-day event backed by The Philippine STAR, Vice-President Noli de Castro, Pagcor, Globe, Accel, Summit Mineral Water, Negros Navigation, Creativity Lounge and AMA Computer U.
Sabrina Ingrid Illustre was equally impressive as she timed 1:04.61 – a Triple A time – on her way to bagging the 100m freestyle gold.
Winnona Claire Yu copped the 100m freestyle gold in 1:05.32 for Manila.
Manila also ruled girls’ volleyball with a pair of triumphs, 25-21, 25-8 and 25-11, 25-11, over Parañaque City.
Action in the centerpiece athletics begins at 7 a.m. today with Manila and Quezon City tipped to slug it out for top honors owing to their respective big delegations.
Meanwhile, de Castro yesterday confirmed his attendance in the POF national finals slated in October at Misamis Oriental in Cagayan de Oro this October.
“The Vice President would be there as guest speaker,” said de Castro’s chief of staff Jess Andres.