NCR tanker churns out 3 more golds

MANILA, Philippines - Palaro 2014 standout Maurice Sacho Ilustre continued to dominate the pool yesterday, winning three more golds to remain undefeated in the Palaro NCR qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Sports Center.

Ilustre, who swept all of his seven events to win the MVP secondary plum in the national Palaro in Laguna last year, posted lopsided victories in the boys 800m free and 100m fly then towed the Muntinlupa team to the gold in the 4x100m medley relay.

Aiming to duplicate his perfect feat last year, the Grade 9 La Salle Zobel student ruled the 800m free in nine minutes, 2.88 seconds while topping the 100m fly in 58.63 seconds for his third individual gold after winning the 400m free last Tuesday.

In-between individual events, Ilustre built an insurmountable lead in third and fly leg of relay as Muntinlupa pulled away for a winning 4:15.19 clocking in the meet hosted by Parañaque, which is celebrating its 17th anniversary of cityhood.

“I hope to repeat my feats here. I believe I can do it again,” said Ilustre, who competed under the banner of Manila last year. He next sees action in the 200m free and fly events and the 4x100m free today.

Parañaque bet Seth Isaak Martin shared the limelight and likewise remained unbeaten after winning his second and third golds in the boys elementary 100m free (59.97) and 50m back (30.57).

Merely 12 years old yet standing at 5-foot-11, Martin, who won three golds and two bronzes in last year’s national Palaro, seeks to add the 50m free and 200m individual medley golds today.

“I think I can do it,” the Grade 6 Masters Academy student said of his bid to emerge as the top elementary athlete not only in swimming but in the multi-event showcase for school athletes in NCR.

Manila’s Jude Ong also hiked her tally to three golds in winning the elementary girls 100m free in 1:03.78 following wins in the 200m free and 100m back last Tuesday.    

Over at the Marikina Sports Park, Malabon’s Mark Angelo Omega and Celestina de Castro of Taguig-Pateros ruled the century dash of the high school boys and girls division, respectively.

Omega clocked 10.987 seconds to win the gold while De Castro turned in a 12.6-second clocking in the distaff side.

Quezon City and Manila split honors in the elementary 100m races with Mel John Dizon topping the boys contest in 12.5 seconds and Sally Callos bagging first place in the girls side in 13.435 seconds.