Team Ilustre East Aquatic collected 30 more gold medals, including 17 in the BiFin event, and claimed the overall team champioship Sunday at the close of Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA) Golden Goggle 3rd and 4th leg at the Rizal Memorial Sports Compex (RMSC) in Malate, Manila.
After leading the team to a 21-gold harvest in the opening day, Jamesray Mishael Ajido capped his dominating performance by winning four gold medals, three in the BiFin event as Team Ilustre topped the combined team scores with 4,682 points in the tournament powered by Speedo and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and MILO.
The 14-year-old internationalist bested his opponents in the BiFin 100 freestyle, clocking 52.27 second as well as in 200free (1:56.15) and 50free (22.80). The Grade 7 student from Montessori Integrated School-Antipolo claimed his fourth gold medal after winning the classic (regular) swimming event in the boys 100m (1:02.47).
Other multiple gold medal winners in BiFins under Team Ilustre were Zoe Adrienne Terrible in girls’ 16-yrs 200free (2:16.11), 50free (27.56) and 100free (1:00.25); Yoana Ysabelle Bersamin in girls’ 13-yrs 200free (2:20.83), 200free (2:56.99), and 50free (28.57); Rio Rafaella Balbuena in girls’ 17-yrs 200free (2:18.59), 50free (27.17), 100free (1:02.67) and 100m back in classical swim (1:20.87). Andrina Rose Victor in girls 9-yrs 200free (3:01.76).
Also contributing to Team Ilustre’s runaway win were Luke Amber Arano in boys’ 17-yrs 50free (22.33), Allyssa Cabatian in girls’ 15-yrs 50free (26.02) and 100free (57.27), Ethan Dulin in boys’ 15-yrs 100free (55.77), Claine Lim in girls’ 13-yrs 100free (1:20.24), Ruth Sula in girls’ 15-yrs 100free (1:21.54).
