By Waylon Galvez
CEBU CITY – Nicole Pamintuan’s bid for an Asian Games berth got a big boost after winning her fourth gold medal in swimming competition of the 9th Philippine National Games (PNG) at the aquatic center of the Cebu City Sports Center here.
Pamintuan, who represents Sta. Rosa City, had another dominant performance as she ruled the 100-meter backstroke in one minute and 9.81 seconds.
The other day, the onetime Palarong Pambansa star bagged three gold medals – 50m backstroke, 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle in the 16-years and above girls.
Already a member of the national team that won the bronze medal in the last Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Pamintuan’s target is to earn a spot in the national team in the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games this August in Indonesia.
“I hope to make it to the Asian Games,” said Pamintuan, who – prior to the PNG – went 7-of-7 in the Philippine National Age-Group Championships last March at the Aquatic Center of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“If my time is not enough to compete in individual category of the Asian Games, I hope to earn a spot in the relay team,” added Pamintuan, a 12th grade student at the De La Salle Zobel.
Andrea Punay of Gen. Santos City and Miles Valdez of Iligan City pocketed silver and bronze medals, respectively as they clocked 1:21.70 and 1:23.68 in this sports meet organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.
In judo, Filipino-Japanese twins Shugen and Kensei Nakano defeated their respective opponents to likewise improve their chance to make regain their spots in the national team for the continental meet.
