FUJIAN, China -- UAAP star Claire Adorna bagged three more gold medals for an overall haul of five to give the Philippine Swimming League a decent finish in the Fujian-Philippines Youth Goodwill Exchange Games which ended yesterday.
Adorna, of the University of the Philippines, took the gold in the 100m freestyle in 1:00.62, the 50m backstroke in 30 seconds and the 100m backstroke in 1:07.00 to add to her two gold medals a day earlier.
“I got sick because of the sudden change of weather, the temperature suddenly got low and water was cold, I could have had better times,” said Adorna.
Palarong Pambansa multiple-gold medalist Gian Berino engaged his Chinese rivals in a close contest in winning the gold medal in the 200m freestyle in two minutes.
The dual meet, held on the invitation of China’s International Cultural Exchange and Economic Affairs to foster friendship through sports between the two countries, was held at the Fujian Sports Vocational Center, a state-of-the-art facility in the southern border of China.
“The Fujian Sports Vocational College has produced several Olympians like swimmer Qi Hui in swimming, World No. 1 badminton player Lin Da, world archer Dai Xiao Xiang, and gymnast He Wen Na,” said Susan Papa, president of the PSL, which was invited by the Chinese government to represent the Philippines in the meet.
“They have their own Sports Vocational Center and it is a complete facility and that makes them good athletes,” Papa added.
Former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, who personally accepted the Chinese invitation for the PSL, said that, despite being only a province of China, “Fujian’s swimming facility and other sports colleges are a hundred times better than the Philippines.”
“Their athletes are not exploited, they take care of their athletes very well,” Coseteng added.
Other gold medalists were Emanuel Joshua Lorbes and Paula Cayanan. Christian Dimaculangan, Andrea Jheremy Pacheco, Abdulrahim Nooh and Portia Kate Doragos won silver medals while Michael Sangalang and Louise Saavedra took the bronze.