Perpetual tanker cops 4 golds in PSL meet

MANILA, Philippines - University of Perpetual Help System Dalta standout Martin Jacob Pupos copped four golds and two silvers to grab the Most Outstanding Swimmer award in the boys’ 15 years event of the Philippine Swimming League (PSL) 57th Leg Series dubbed PSL-Magnolia Swimfest yesterday at the Diliman Preparatory School swimming pool in Quezon City.

Pupos ruled the 200-meter individual medley (2:24.28), 100m freestyle (57.25), 50m backstroke (32.16) and 50m freestyle (26.48) then finished second in the 50m butterfly (29.26) and 100m breaststroke (1:18.25). Pupos is one of the country’s representatives to the 2014 Australia Swimming Championships scheduled April 19-20 in Perth.

Also grabbing the spotlight was 11-year-old Christine Keith Luna, who dominated the girls’ 11 years 200m IM (2:57.00), 100m freestyle (1:15.10), 100m breaststroke (1:36.52), 50m backstroke (41.14) and 50m freestyle (34.66).

“Overall, it was a successful edition. Some records were broken, meaning these kids are improving from time to time. We want to stage as many tournaments as possible to give them proper exposure,” said PSL president Susan Papa.

“We are thankful to our supporters especially the involvement of Magnolia in this edition. We’re looking forward to work with them in the future,” added Papa.

The other Most Outstanding Swimmer awardees were Mervier Jules Mirandilla (11 years), Jerard Jacinto and Aki Lorbes (12), Andre Abacahin (13), Sean Enero (14), Emanuel Joshua Lorbes (16) and Royce Parco (17-over) in the boys category; and Bela Louise Magtibay (12), Patricia Aguilar (13), Angelica Medrano and Julianne Torres (14), Celyn Parco (15), Donalyn Parco (16) and Jackelyn Calvadores (17-over) in the girls side.

The winners in the novice division were Hannah Salazar (6), Theresse Montano (7), Chloe Castro (8), Martha Montano (9), Kate Montano (10), Gail Anano (11), Jeremae Abainza (12), Bianca Mendoza (13), Jeminah Redondo (14) and Kate Dimapilis (15) in the girls class; and Antonio Bautista (5), Khrystian Tan (8), Jerick Benigla (9), Lance Deslate (10), Nigel Tan (11), Pete Dimapilis (12), Carlo Arcilla (13), Alfred Conda (15), and Robby Borromeo (16) in the boys event.

PSL, which has the longest grassroots program in sports, is accredited by the Federation of School Sports of the Philippines, an affiliate to International Federation of Sports Universities (FISU).

The PSL resumes its search for talented swimmers in Boracay and Kalibo in Aklan  April 26-27.

It will serve as a tryout to select swimmers for the Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy as well as in international tournaments in Hong Kong, Singapore and the prestigious 2015 World Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea.