Manzo wins gold in Coseteng Cup, boosts Universiade

Manila, Philippines -  Andrei Manzo, a 17-year-old product of the Mindoro Paddlers, won the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke in one minute, 12.47 seconds, leading 16 others who passed the qualifying standard in their age divisions on the first day of the second Nikki Coseteng Cup yesterday at the Rizal Memorial swimming pool.

Manzo’s time was below his best personal of 1:08 he registered in the Hong Kong Invitational two weeks ago but it was enough to keep him in the initial list of national candidates who will be trained for the 2013 Universiade to be held in Kazan, Russia.

More than 400 swimmers from 49 swimming clubs are seeing action in the competition, held in honor of former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, Diliman Preparatory School president and sports patron, and serving as the qualifying tournament for the selection of a pool of national swimmers, from which the national team will be chosen to represent the country in the World University Games next year in Russia.

The other candidates are Darwin Tumaneng, Benedict Geneta, Carl Patrick Bormate, Jeron Mercader, Ralph Kevin Claveria, Vanne Zendrick Yumul, Paula Cayanan, Juliana Villanueva, Franz Joves, Bhay Newberry, Vaughn Aquino, Charize Esmero, Robin Seranillo, Ronnel Alcantara, Skyler Claveria and Denjylie Cordero.

The participants came from all regions as far as Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Dapitan, Surigao, Mindoro, Batangas, Lingayen, Laguna, Pampanga, Palawan, Zamboanga and Baguio as well as NCR.

The competition ends today with the awarding of trophies to the most outstanding swimmers starting from 10-under boys and girls category and the Nikki Coseteng Cup to the participant with the most number of records broken. The overall champion team will also receive a trophy.