Greg Anthony Muyong and Marcus Caleb Pablo shared the limelight by winning two gold medals in their respective categories in the 1st Novice Swim Championship of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA) Saturday at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The 14-year-old Muyong of Green Blasters Swim Club topped the boys 14-yrs. Class A 50 meter Freestyle (27.90) and 100-m Individual Medley (1:09.90) while Pablo of Aquaknights won the 6-yrs-old category in 50-m free (57.41) and 25-m breastroke (28.91) to emerge as the most promising swimmers in the two-day event serving as COPA’s grassroots sports program.
COPA founder and Batangas 1st District Cong. Eric Buhain along with coach Chito Rivera and Richard Luna awarded the medals to the winners.
Buhain also challenged all participants to train harder and set a goal every time they have competitions to take part.
“Walang dapat maging sagabal sa ating mga pangarap. Hindi dito natatapos ang inyong pagpupursige, every tournament dapat laging misyon ninyo ay maimproved ang inyong mga oras. Nakakapagod, pero kailangan nating magtiyaga ang magsakripisyo para maabot natin ang ating pangarap. Kami po sa COPA ay handang gumabay sa inyong lahat lalo na sa mga batang nagnanais matuto at humusay,” said the two -time Olympian.
“Maraming nagtatanong sa akin kung ano ang nararamdaman ko dahil hanggang ngayon ay wala pang nakakabura sa six-gold medal na nakuha ko sa SEA Games noong 1991. Dito sa mismong swimming pool na nilanguyan ninyo nagawa ko ang record. Ang sagot ko, malungkot si Eric Buhain dahil mahabang taon na ang nakalipas wala pang nakakabura sa record. Sa inyong hanay, umaasa ako na magmumula sa inyo ang bubura sa record ni Eric Buhain,” said who Buhain who also served as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Other winners in the meet also supported by Speedo were Roderick Gonzalvo in 50-m free Class A 13-years (27.30); Matthew Paz (Class B, 38.70); Elijah Manalili (Class C, 40.82); Daniel Karl Glory in 50-m 14-years Class B (36.40); Dannish Londob (Class C, 39.40); boys 15-years 50-m free Alvin Marticion (Class A 25.80); Carl Malbas (Class B, 33.30); Jhonny Mendoza and Roldan Seiga (Class C, 37.40); 7-yrs old 25m breast Caleb Immanuel Pascia (31.31); boys 11-yrs 100-m IM Kurt Exebia (1:27.00); Rodevic Gonza;vo (boys 14, 1:05.40);
Benjie Manto (boys Class A 6-years 50-m free, 57.41); Achilles Calingo (boys 7-years, Class A, 58.98); Brennan Batchao (boys 8-years class A, 27.33); Nathan Bayron (Class C, 37.80); Kai Mangubat in the boys 10 breast (Class A, 21.54); Yuan Dela Cruz (Class B, 24.60); John Catindig (Class C, 27.50); Clarez Layos in 11-yrs breast (Class A, 21.30); Kurt Exebia (Class B, 22.70); Corvin Mcmeans (Class C, 27.00).
