Jamesray Mishael Ajido missed winning his seventh gold but still claimed the Most Outstanding Swimmer (MOS) award at the close of the 1st Philippine Aquatics, Inc (PAI) National Age Group Championships at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Malate, Manila.
Ajido, 15, expectedly stamped his class in the boys 15 Class A 100-m backstroke and 50-m freestyle, clocking 1:02.44 and 24.87 seconds, respectively, to emerge as the most decorated participant in the three-day tournament serving as the launching pad for PAI’s national ranking system and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and Speedo.
The veteran internationalist beat John Jeremy Villanueva of Pasig City Club (1:05.87) and Vince De Leon of Ilustre East (1:09.23) in the fly before humbling his rivals Matt Nerison of Elizabeth Seton (26.32) and Elijah Ebayan of South Warriors (26.53) in freestyle duel.
But on his third event for the day, he faltered.
No thanks to a tightness on his right shoulder, the La Salle ace was beaten by Rodevic Gonzalvo of Green Blasters in the 200m fly.
Gonzalvo clocked 2:12. 44 to beat Ajido (2:19.03) and Ashton Clyde Jose (2:26.35).
“Hindi naman po matindi, may konting pain pero tolerable naman po, no excuses. Talagang mas malakas lang si Rodevic sa turn hindi ko na kinayang abutan,” said Ajido, still recuperating from a shoulder injury he sustained during the ASEAN Schools tryouts last night.
He earlier dominated the 50m backstroke (28.50), 100m freestyle (53.97), 100m butterfly (56.23), and 200m freestyle (2:00.42).
Likewise, Mojdeh brothers — tBehrouz Mohammad and Mikhael Jasper — claimed their respective MOS awards, claiming two gold medals each, overshadowing the performance of their elite older sister Michaela Jasmine in the tournament serving as the prelude for the National tryouts next month.
Behrouz Mohammad, a Grade 7 student at the Immaculate Heart of Mary College of Paranaque added the boys 13 Class A 100m back (1:11.63) and 200m fly to his gold medal collection, while the younger Mickael took the gold in the boys 9 Class A 100m back (1;23.90) and 50m free (35.31).
Behrouz Mohammad, 13, also claimed the gold in the boys 13 Class A 100-m backstroke (1;16.49), 100m fly (1:05.41), and 400m Individual Medley, while Mikhael Jasper topped the boys 9 Class B 50-m breast (51.45), 100-, fly (1:34.70), 50-m fly (38.60), 100-m free (1:16.94) and 200-m free (2:45.76) as they helped Behrouz Elite squad win the team championship.
Other final day winners were Pia Severina Magat of Sharkpeedo, Nicola Diamante of RSS Dolphins, Miska Sy, Elisa Janna de Kam, Kyla Bulaga, Ezra Avery Advincula. Clinton Hu, and Camille Buico.
