Rising stars Ricielle Maleeka Melencio, Nicola Queen Diamante, and Aishel Evangelista lived up to their status, winning their respective events at the start of the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. ‘Go Full Speedo’ Swim Series 2 Championships on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool in Malate, manila.
The 20-year-old Melencio of Ayala Harpoons Swim Club claimed two gold medals, topping the girls’ 19-over 50-m butterfly and 200m freestyle clocking 31.58 seconds and 2:19.26, respectively in the two-day meet backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Speedo.
A former international age-group campaigner, Melencio dominated the field in the 50m fly with her closer rival Zoe Marie Hilario of FTW Royals clocking 31.89. Iammejen Lopez of D’Ace Seahawks finished third at 33.50.
Melencio topped the 200m free against Lopez (2:22.04) and Renee Margaret Diaz of Ilustre East Aquatic (2:27.06).
“I trained for almost a month to prepare for this series. Luckily, I got a good start. Just try to sustain the momentum, hopefully,” said Melencio.
Diamante, the top swimmer of RSS Dolphins coach Anthony Reyes and a Grade 9 student at the Augustinian Abbey in Las Pinas, showed the way in the girls’ 14-year-old 50m fly clocking 31.70 seconds to beat Rielle Aislyn Antonio of PCA Stingray (32.13) and Caelyn Dane Salac of Modern Aquatic Swim Club (34.02).
For his part, Evangelista, the Most Outstanding Swimmer (MOS) in his age class with six gold medals in Series 1 last month, started his campaign on high note winning the boys 14-year-old 200m freestyle in time of 2:02.40. The UST varsity member and top swimmer of Betta Caloocan Swimming Club overwhelmed Joaquin De Castro of Ilustre East (2:11.94), and Kean Paragatos of Rapid Dolphins (2:18.11).
Other opening day winners were Paul Vincent Ocampo ( boys 11-year-old 200m free; 2:36.58), Von Andrei Pinon (12yrs, 2:15.83), Vynz Tadulan (13yrs, 2:12.27), John Jeremy Villaneuva (15yr., 2:08.34), Ethan Yuri Dulin (16yrs, 2:09.74), Patrick Vidal (17yrs, 2:06.22), Jim Ryan Mirandilla (18yrs, 2:15.06), Earl Jhay Jayme (19yrs, 2:03.39);
Makoto Nakamura in the girls 11-yrs.old 200m freestyle (2:28.75), Sophia Rose Garra (12yrs, 2:18.06); Rielle Antonio (13yrs, 2:22.66); Eliana Rodriguez (14yrs, 2:25.55), Kristine Uy (15yrs, 2:22.04), Alyssa Cabatian (16yrs, 2:22.04), Milkyla Guzman (17yrs, 2:26.25), Rio Balbuena (18yrs, 2:22.89).
