By MARK REY MONTEJO
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – La Salle’s Philip Adrian Sahagun was hardly bothered by the scorching heat as he beat his rivals in dramatic fashion to give the Philippines its first gold during the swimming event in the 11th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex Monday morning, Dec. 2, here.
Sahagun, 21, who represents the country’s team A, splashed his way to the gold, registering 2 minutes and 13.52 seconds – just a hairline faster than his closest pursuer in Indonesia’s Hidayatullah Aril (2:13.83) – to capture the boys’ 200m IM crown.
Aril and Philippines A’s Rodolfo Apilado III (2:20.82) captured the silver and bronze honors, respectively, in the 8-man finals.
“I didn’t expect to win, kasi two weeks ago kakagaling kolang ng UAAP and I didn’t have [enough] time to prepare for this kasi gusto ko rin po makapag-hinga. One week po ako walang training at all,” said the third-year BS Entrepreneurship student in La Salle.
“Pero ang mindset ko lang is swim for the Philippines,” he added. “No’ng last lap, medyo nakaramdan po ako ng sakit ng katawan ko pero nakita kopo ‘yong kalaban ko na humahabol kaya i-push ko na… ando’n napo ako sa una kaya sabi ko ‘di kona po ibibigay ‘tong gold.”
Up next for the UAAP two-time bronze medalist are 200 IM, and 200m backstroke, 100m backstroke events, and 4×1 freestyle and medley relays.
In the distaff side, Ateneo and PH’s Team A bet Lorah Micah Amoguis impressed as well after snaring the gold in her pet event – girls’ 200m IM – clocking in 2 minutes and 30.73 seconds.
Amoguis, a BS Life Sciences freshman, powered through shoulder fatigue and put up a stellar performance to boost her six-event campaign this year.
Other Filipino swimmers who reigned in their respective events are June Pearl Dagano (girls’ 100m freestyle), John Michael Catamco (boys’ 50m butterfly) and Maglia Jaye Dignadice (girls 50m butterfly).
In the other side of the complex, Berdard Ganancial heaved 33.95 meters to clinch the gold in the men’s discus while his compatriots Jhonmark Sedoripa (33.14m) and Lunasco Alabado (32.58m) secured the silver and bronze.
In shot put, the Filipinos came up short for the top-podium finish with PH team D’s Aliia Tricia Badajos (9.53m) and team A’s Jerlyn Grace Crismundo (9.25m) settling for second and third place as Malaysia’s Daniella Jimil (10.25m) snagged the gold.
Other disciplines – archery and badminton – already got going in various venues while esports is set to start at SM City Puerto Princesa, Karatedo at NCCC Mall; Pencak Silat at Robinsons Place and Sepak Takraw at PSU Gym.
