Lorbes, Ilustre, Corderos sparkle in Coseteng meet

MANILA, Philippines - Thirteen-year-old Emmanuel Joshua Lorbes, a national champion in the making, ripped three age group standards, while the Cordero sisters made another tantalizing performance in the third Nikki Costeng Swim Championships, which drew a record 600 swimmers and a huge crowd Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Center.

Lorbes, from the Susan Papa Swimming Academy, broke the PSL record in the 100m butterfly with a time of one minute, 2.19 seconds, the 50m freestyle in 26 seconds flat, the 400m freestyle in 4:47.00 and the 100m freestyle in 59 seconds.

Delia Cordero bettered the marks in 200m IM with a clocking of 2:28.00, the 400m free in 4:43.00, 100m backstroke in 1:11.12 and the 100m freestyle in 1:01.00 while player-coach Denjylie Cordero broke the 200m IM in 2:29.00, the 400m freestyle in 4:44.00,the 100m freestyle in 1:02.94 and the 100m breaststroke in 1:15.59.

In all, 58 PSL meet records were bettered in the biggest assembly of age group swimmers in the country.

A huge throng, which included Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ritchie Garcia and Department of Education-NCR Sports head director Dr. Noemi Bellosillo as guests of honor, witnessed the grand performance of a new wave of future international swimmers in the event serving as the 33rd leg of the PSL Swim Series and held in honor of swimming patron and former Sen. Nikki Coseteng.

University of the East tanker Manuel Sacho Ilustre showed the amazing power of a 12-year-old with record-breaking feats in the 400m (4:33.57), 100m fly (1:05.53) and 200m IM (2:28.00).

Palarong Pambansa champion Gian Berino bettered the mark in 100m fly in 1 minute and 100m free in 56 seconds, while UAAP champion Ma. Claire Adorna set new norms  in the 100m free in 1:00.00 and the 100m backstroke in 1:07.00.

Adorna exceeded the norms despite an endurance run and swim up to 9 p.m. on the eve of the competitions at the instance of her coach, a PhilSwimming member who asked the UP star not to join the meet since the PSL is not affiliated with the national body.

“It’s unfair for the swimmer. While we are encouraging every Filipino swimmer, member or non-member of PSL, to join the meet in line with our sports for all policy, this coach tries to deny the swimmer the right to compete,” said PSL president Susan Papa. “Adorna has been complaining and scared for any form of sanction that might be imposed on her if she joined the meet.”

Five-year-old Mark Brian Dula from the Susan Papa Academy twinkled in the youngest age category with meet records in the 50m (49 sec.), 50m breast (1: 11) and 50m butterfly (1:02).