Berino makes strides in US Junior Olympics

MANILA, Philippines -  Former Palarong Pambansa champion Gian Berino is making strides in his US training in his bid to represent the Philippines in international competitions like the Southeast Asian Games, the Universiade and the Asian Games.

Philippine Swimming League president Susan Papa said Berino, 17, joined the US Junior Olympic Swimming Meet where he surpassed his personal best after only six months of training.

He placed seventh out of 62 in the 800m freestyle (8:34), 19th out of 66 in the 400m freestyle (4:12), 17th out of 72 in the 1,500m freestyle (17:08), 29th of 51 in the 100m backstroke (1:02) and 13th of 55 in the 200m backstroke (2:11.52).

Berino, a standout of the Philippine Swimming League and endorsed by Diliman Preparatory School and swimming patron former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, belongs to a family of national swimmers.

His parents Dario and Susie Berino sent him to the US in hopes of giving him the best preparation to end the gold medal drought of the Philippines in the Asian Games.

“Gian is training in earnest and he needs the help to continue his training in the US,” said Papa. “He is the best to have come out of our PSL grassroots program; he is a homegrown talent with a big potential and with support from the government and private sector, he will be next in line in our quest for an Asian Games medal in the next four years when he will have reached his peak at 21.”