Pitong PSL athletes hinirang na Most Outstanding Swimmers

TOKYO — Magarbong tinapos ng Philippine Swimming League (PSL) ang kanilang kampanya matapos ga­waran ng Most Outstanding Swimmer awards ang pitong Pinoy tankers sa 2018 Japan Age-Group Swimming Championship na ginanap sa St. Mary’s International School swimming pool dito.

Nanguna sa listahan si Palarong Pambansa-bound at reigning PSL Female Swimmer of the Year Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh ng Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Parañaque na kinuha ang korona sa girls’ 11-12 category.

Humakot si Mojdeh ng limang ginto at isang pilak sa individual events kabilang ang tatlong bagong rekord.

Unang winasak ni Mojdeh ang open record sa 100m butterfly sa bendisyon ng isang minuto at 6.86 se­gundo kasunod ang pagbura sa area records sa 50m butterfly (30.65) at 100m Individual Medley (1:11.44).

Nakahirit pa si Mojdeh ng gintong medalya sa 100m breaststroke (1:08.96) at 200m IM (2:33.02) at tanso naman sa 50m breaststroke.

“It was an amazing campaign. Our swimmers compe­ted against taller and older rivals and we’re happy that they were able to perform well despite the odds. It only shows that our grassroots development program is wor­king so well. This is the product of our hardwork and perserverance,” pahayag ni PSL President Susan Papa.

Maningining rin ang kampanya ni Richelle Anne Cal­lera na winalis ang lahat ng gintong medalya sa kanyang anim na events para kubrahin ang MOS award sa girls’ 8-under class.

Bumandera si Callera sa 25m butterfly, 50m butterfly, 25m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 25m backstroke at 50m backstroke.

Pareho namang humirit ng limang ginto at isang pilak na medalya sina Aishel Cid Evangelista ng West Manila Christian School (boys’ 8-under) at Coby Marcus Rivilla ng Ormoc (boys’ 9-10) para angkinin ang MOS sa kani-kanilang dibisyon.

Pinagharian ni Evangelista ang 25m freestyle, 25m butterfly, 25m backstroke, 50m butterfly at 50m freestyle, at pumangalawa ito sa 50m backstroke at nanguna si Rivilla sa 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m IM at 200m IM, at sumegunda sa 100m freestyle.

Nagwagi rin ng MOS si Wisenheimer Academy standout Marc Bryan Dula sa boys’ 11-12 division kung sa­an nakahirit ito ng tatlong pilak (50m butterfly, 100m but­terfly at 100m backstroke) at dalawang tanso (200m IM at 50m backstroke) gayundin sina Triza Tabamo sa girls’ 9-10 tangan ang tatlong ginto (100m butterfly, 50m butterfly at 100m freestyle) at tatlong pilak (50m freestyle, 50m backstroke at 200m IM) at Kiara Acierto sa girls’ 8-under bitbit ang ginto sa 50m backstroke, pilak sa 25m butterfly at tanso sa 25m backstroke.

Sa kabuuan ay nasungkit ng PSL team ang second overall title sa team championship race.

“Once again, we dedicate this successful campaign to our kababayan here in Japan. They helped us in this journey especially Myles Briones Beltran and Hiroshi Katsumata and all of the Filipino community who extended their support. Accept our heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Mabuhay po kayo,” dagdag ni Papa.

Kasama ni Papa sa delegasyon sina PSL secretary general Maria Susan Benasa, coaches Alexandre Papa at Virgie De Luna, PSL operations manager Stephanie Sablan at regional director Joan Mojdeh.