Zambo girl leads ASAP winners

MANILA, Philippines - Mary Angelic Saavedra showed big promise as a future national swimmer as she completed her international debut with eight gold medals in leading the embattled members of the Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines at the close of the 434rd Sabah Age Group Invitational swimming meet yesterday in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Saavedra, 12 year-old find from Zamboanga, won in the 50m freestyle (30.9 seconds), 100m freestyle (1:15), 200m butterfly ((2:47), 50m back (36sec), 100mback (1:18), 200m back (2:52) and 200m freestyle (2:50.6) and in the relay.

She, however, faces a two-year suspension from the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association, whose president Mark Joseph claimed she did not have the PASA approval to join the meet.

Other gold medal winners were Angela Cordero (3), Juliet Cordero (1) and Nicole Tan (1). Hans Ramos had three silvers and two bronzes.

Other players, whose age eligibility was also questioned by Joseph, did not compete and will file charges against the PASA head.