PSL tankers amass 45 gold medals in Singapore meet

SINGAPORE – The Philippine Swimming League (PSL) continued its impressive showing in the 2014 Singapore Invitational Swimming Championship as it claimed 20 more gold medals at the Singapore Island Country Club (SICC).

Francesca Joves smashed the meet record in the girls’ 13-14 100-meter backstroke. She submitted 1:12.19, good enough to break the 1:12.44 old mark of Chua Yi Ying May of Singapore in 2012.

University of the Philippines’ Delia Angela Cordero copped three more golds (100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle) in the girls’ 18-over while Jesreel Francisco (girls’ 11-12 100m back and 50m free), Sean Terence Zamora (boys’ 13-14 100m back and 50m free) Angelica Medrano (girls’ 15-17 100m back and 50m free) and Christen Mercado (boys’ 18-over 100m back and 50m free) added two golds apiece.

Also winning gold medals were Kyla Soguilon (girls’ 9-10 50m free), Michael Lozada (boys’ 7-8 100m back), Ma. Angela Paula Villamil (girls’ 13-14 50m free) and Emmanuel Solina (boys’ 7-8 50m free).

The other golds were from the 200m free relay team of Soguilon, Sophia Villamil, Jaz Villanueva and Marie Borres (girls’ 9-10); Francisco, Trisha Lei Bongco, Felice Alexis Reyes and Sidley Malumay (girls’ 11-12); and Paula Angela, Joves, Bela Magtibay and Georr Briones (girls’ 13-14).

Besides the golds, the team also grabbed 13 silvers and eight bronzes. The silver medalists were Soguilon, Joves, Angela Paula, Marc Bryan Dula, Daryl Concepcion, Lans Donato, Patrick Tierie, Alic Dela Cruz, Jasmine Mojdeh (2), Denjylie Cordero (2) and the boys’ 9-10 200m free relay team of John Gabriel Bucad, Wilse Azarcon, Paul Ramirez and Justin Palomo. Bronzes were from Magtibay, Dela Cruz, Solina, Gianna Data, Celine Delotavo, Dennice Cordero (2) and the boys’ 11-12 200m free relay squad of Regil Dan Billones, JC Bandejas, Jordan Lobos and Jesse Anulao.

The PSL has now 45 golds, 37 silvers and 24 bronzes counting the team’s 25-24-14 on the opening day. More Filipinos were scheduled to swim yesterday.

“We are aiming to surpass our medal output last year here (50-42-30) and we’re optimistic that we could achieve it,” said Papa, whose team bagged the overall  title last year.