Barreto, PSL tankers shine in S'pore meet

 MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Swimming League’s Rafael Barreto ruled all his events to become the most outstanding swimmer in the 9-10 age group category in the All Nations Cup held in Tao Payoh, Singapore.

Barreto won in the 100m freestyle (1:06.50), 50m butterfly (35 seconds), 50m freestyle (31 seconds) and 200m freestyle (2:25) in the state-of-the-art venue where last year’s Youth Olympic Games was held.

Barreto also anchored the medley and freestyle relay wins by the Filipinos which included Aki Lorbes, Kyle Libat and Vincent Bornasal.

The event, to which the Philippine Swimming League and its sister federation, the Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines, are invited annually, was participated in by teams from Australia and Southeast Asia.

The swimming meet is held to encourage participation of swimmers from 8-under to master’s level whether they are members of their national sports association or not.

The other outstanding swimmer from the Philippines was Maria Enjie Siso, a public school student, in the 11-12 category.

“This young elementary girl’s success shows that no matter what your station in life, you will gain glory for yourself and your country if you work for it,” said PSL president Susan Papa, who includes public school students and the underprivileged in the league’s outreach program.

Also cited as outstanding swimmers were Jaja Cordero (15-17) and Bhay Newberry (7-8).

Other medal winners were Mathew Tan, Trisha Oliveros, JV Llaguno, EJ Lorens, Lance Sevilla, Icy Tan, Julia Torres, Kevin Claveria, Libat, Lorbes, Jean Talavera, Kio Abacahin, Charles Ticbaen, Leichelle Buenaventura, Nicole Simon and Milicent, Jan and Jan Vincent Bornasal.

Former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, chief executive officer of the Diliman Preparatory School which has its own swimming program for students, lauded the performance of the swimmers.

“We have to bring swimming back into the limelight, but we have to work hard to catch up with other Asian swimmers,” said Coseteng who said the DPS and PSL will be sending another team to Bangkok next month.