Ilustre, Adorna shine in Sen. Nikki Coseteng Swim Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Thirteen-year-old Maurice Sacho Ilustre and UAAP veteran swimmer-turned triathlete Ma. Claire Adorna led the siege on the record books on a big day for Philippine swimming in the Sen. Nikki Coseteng Cup yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Ilustre clocked two minutes, 19.65 seconds in the 200m individual medley, 1:01.12 in 100m butterfly, 57.15 in 100m freestyle, 9:42.04 in 800m freestyle, 4:32.16 in 400m freesyle, 2:17.62 in 200m fly, and 26.72 in 50m free as he romped off with the most number of gold medals in the event held in honor of former Sen. Coseteng, sports advocate and patron, and serving as the 50th leg of the PSL Swim Circuit.

Coseteng awarded the medals to the winners.

Ilustre also surpassed all the quadruple-A American Motivational Time standards – 2:22.02 in 200m IM, 1:02.02 in 100m butterfly,  59.02 in 100m freestyle, 2:26.15 in 200m fly and in 50m freestyle.

A week after ruling the women’s event in the Tri United 4 triathlon at Clark, Adorna returned to the pools to show her superiority in the butterfly and freestyle events.

She clocked 1:02.5 in 100m butterfly and 59.81 in the freestyle, hitting the Quadruple A in both events.

Seven-year-old Gabriel Labasan broke all five PSL records – 50m fly (44.13), 100m free (1:23.81), 50m back (43.70), 50m breast (48.09) and 50m freestyle (37.26).

PSL president Susan Papa, who has formed the PSL as an alternative to the grassroots program of the national swimming body, said she was overwhelmed by the improvement of swimmers, adding that the monthly competitions help the swimmers a lot. 

“We are happy to note that the PSL series has become an effective tool to gauge the performance of age groupers,” said Papa.

Other record breakers were Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Kyla Soguilon, Gabriel Labasan, Noah Labasan, Michael Lozada, Meynard Geof Marcelino, Jesreel Francisco, Francheska Ezzabella Joves, Carmen Rose Matabuena, Mary Angelic Saavedra, Charize Juliana Esmero, Marc Bryan Dula, Emanuel Joshua Lorbes, Lans Rawlin Donato, Imee Joyce Saavedra, Christine Jhoy Mendoza, Bridgette Raine Bultron, Maxine Ugaban, Coleen Dizon, Chloe Ann Fabic, Priscila Loren Aquino, Seth Isaak Martin, Yuri Ilustre, Jifrey Azor, Sean Terence Zamora, Aubrey Tom, Bela Louise Magtibay, Mary Julianne Solita,  Portia Doragos, John Carlo Doragos, and Carmen Rose Matabuena.

Meanwhile, PSL chairman Buddy Cunanan confirmed the participation of Filipino swimmers in a dual meet in Cape town, South Africa in February next year.

Cunanan was responsible for bringing together the PSL and its counterpart in South Africa to a goodwill swim meet, the first time this is held in the history of both countries.