Berino bags five golds in Mayor Belmonte Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Gian Berino bagged five gold medals to emerge most outstanding swimmer in the second Mayor Sonny Belmonte Cup at the Amoranto swimming pool Saturday.

Berino, member of the Philippine Swimming League, took the gold in the 100m butterfly and backstroke, 200m freestyle and breaststroke and 400m individual medley in a show of versatility, breaking all PSL swim records, in the one-day event hosted by outgoing Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte in cooperation with the Amoranto Sports Complex under administrator Andy Apostol.

Berino is set to compete in the Asian School Games in Malaysia in July with his private coach Joey Andaya.

Inaki Lorbes, from the Susan Papa Swimming Academy, ruled the 7-8 years category, winning golds in the 50m backstroke and breaststroke, 100m freestyle and 200 IM.

Inaki is also set to join the International invitational swim meet in Brunei next month.

“PSL competitions are getting tougher every month. Swimmers prepare and train hard as they look forward to meeting their opponents every month as part of the continuing development program of PSL,” said Papa.

Lawyer Jane Ong, who awarded the trophies for the most outstanding swimmer and team championships, cheered her daughter Patricia Yam who just arrived from United States. 

Yam is one of the most outstanding swimmers in the 15-over girls category.

Patricia was also granted an academic and swimming scholarship at Maryland, USA after completing her secondary course at Fullerton, California, and is a recipient of Pres. Obama’s Educational Award for science and math.

Other most outstanding swimmers were Eyasha Camus and Mark Joseph Capa, both from Grotto Vista Resort Swim Team coached by Joel Esquivel (6-under), Nirel Marie Ibarra and Inaki Lorbes (7-8), Paula Cayanan and Sean Terrence Zamora (9-10), Priscilla Aquino and Hans Ramos of Susan Papa Swimming Academy and Robert Tiano of Lipa Mediatrix swim club (11-12), Allia Cortado and Christen Mercado (13-14), and Patricia Yam and Gian Berino (15-over).

“The PSL is thankful to Mayor Sonny Belmonte for all his support and for giving us the opportunity to promote swimming and prepare swimmers and coaches for international swim meets,” Papa said.

Papa added the PSL will be sending two of its national coaches – Emer Matienzo and Edgar Galeno – to Brunei with airfare shouldered by PSL.

Mark Dalin, president of the Rotary Club Remedios Circle of Manila, was tapped as the new operations director for PSL, said Papa.