Iloilo, Aklan tankers shine in PSL leg

MANILA, Philippines - Promising tankers Joseph Pyon of Iloilo and Kyla Soguilon of Aklan claimed six gold medals each to lead the Most Outstanding Swimmer (MOS) awardees in the Philippine Swimming League (PSL) 61st Leg Series dubbed the John B. Lacson Memorial swim meet held at the JB Lacson Foundation Maritime University swimming pool yesterday.

The nine-year-old Pyon made waves by clinching the top spot in the boys’ 9-10 class 100-meter individual medley, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m breaststroke while Soguilon also sizzled in the girls’ 9-10 category, topping the 100m IM, 50m back, 50m breast, 50m free, 100m free, 50m fly and 100m breast.

Sharing the spotlight were University of San Carlos ’ (USC) Loren Dale Echavez (girls 17-over), JB Lacson’s Shahhera Butiong (girls’ 6-under), Capiz Eaglerays’ Patricia Molino (girls’ 15-16), Celine Delotavo (girls’ 13-14), and Aklan’s Julienne Fernandez (girls’ 7-8), Georr Briones (girls’ 11-12), who copped the MOS trophies in their respective age-groups.

The other MOS awardees were JB Lacson’s Ashlee Robin Dequito (boys’ 11-12) and Willrichson Casidsid (boys’ 15-16), Aklan’s Kobe Soguilon (boys’ 13-14) and Michael Gabriel Lozada (boys’ 7-8), University of Bohol’s Alexandrei Gallego (boys’ 6-under), and Colegio del Sagrado Corazon’s Jason Villaruz (boys’ 17-over).

Host John B. Lacson Swimming Team of coach Ronald Sta. Ana took the overall title with an unbeatable total score of 1,137 while Aklan Swimming Team of coach Kokoy Soguilon wound up second with 566 points followed by the Central Philippines University Golden Lions (443), USC (310), Capiz Turbo Shark (248), Capiz Eaglerays (238) and Panaad Swim Team (171).

“A lot of new meet records were established. It’s a good sign that we really have a lot of talented swimmers here in the Western Visayas Region. We will help them achieve their dreams and be part of the Philippine delegation in our future international tournaments,” said PSL president Susan Papa.

Eleven meet records were broken including two new marks each from Echavez (girls’ 100m breast, 1:24.95 and 100m free 1:01.55) and Lozada (boys’ 50m back, 42.27 and 100m breast, 1:46.60). The other record breakers were Molino (girls’ 100m breast, 1:24.12 and 100m free, 1:06.11), Delotavo (girls’ 100m free, 1:05.95), Villaruz (boys’ 100m free, 57.00), Rose Mary Occeno (girls’ 17-over 100m free, 1:04.72), Rafael Lentejas of Ateneo de Manila University (boys’ 6-under 100m breast, 2:19.96), and Pia Cardinal (girls’ 100m breast, 1:29.50).

In other results, Trisha Lei Bongco claimed three gold medals on the final day of the competition. She ruled the girls’ 11-12 50m free, 100m free and 50m fly.