By Edwin Rollon
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – Siblings Philip Adrian and Rissa Angelian Sahagun shared the limelight winning two gold medals each as the Philippines dominated 10 out of 12 events in the swimming competitions at the start of the 11th Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asia Growth Areas (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games on Monday at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex here.
Philip Adrian marks his name in the Games history book as the first gold medal winner in the biennial meet's comeback after six years of hiatus due to the pandemic, winning the meet's first event in the boys' 200m Individual Medley with a time of 2:13.52. He beat Indonesian rival Hidayatullah Aril from South Sulawesi and teammate Rodolfo Paolo III clocking 2:13.83 and 2:20.82, respectively.
He returned an hour later and anchored the Philippine Team-A which consisted of Pietro Dominic Requiza, John Michael Catamco, and Paulo Miguel Labanon to victory in the boys 400m freestyle relay with a time of 3:44.05 beating Malaysia Team-B (3:50.05), and Indonesia (3:55.73).
“I didn’t expect to win, kasi two weeks ago kakagaling ko lang 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,” ssid the 21-year-old La Salle student taking up Entrepreneur course.
“Pero ang mindset ko lang is swim for the Philippines. 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,” he added.
The meet is organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and hosted by the Puerto Princesa City government.
His 17-year-old sister Rissa, a student at the Ateneo de Manila, pulled off a show in the girls' 200m breaststroke clocking 2:54.96 to easily disposed rivals Marien Sofia Carino of Philippine Team-B (2:57.05) and Malaysian Tamia Desiree Chua (3:06.42).
Rissa claimed her second gold medal as she joined Juliana Maeien Villanueva, Lia Margarette Amoguis, and Lora Micah Amoguis capturing the 400m freestyle Relay in a time of 4:19.20 beating Philippine Team D and Philippine Team B, clocking 4:20.08 and 4:39.57, respectively.
Lora Micah Amoguis joined Sahagun's siblings as the Games double gold medalists as she topped the girls' 200m Individual Medley clocking 2:30.73. Team Philippines D bet Maglia Jaye Dignadice settled for silver at 2:38.01 while Allen Joy Santos of Philippine Ream A finished third at 2:42.45.
John Michael Catamco extends Philippine Team A dominance for the day, winning the boys' 50m butterfly clocking 28.14 seconds, beating Philippine Team D Lance Gabriel Romero (28.44) and Indonesian Naufal Saputra Muhammad (28.59).
June Pearl Dagano and Maglia Jaye Dignadice of Team Philippines D also shine capturing the gold medal in the girls' 100m freestyle (1:04.59) and girls' 50m butterfly (30.47), respectively. Dagano beat compatriots Philippines Team A teammates Mira Claire Catayas (1:07.83) and Gwen Stefani Pansit (1:09.98), while Dignadice won over Philippine Ream A teammates Stacy Brenice Requiza (31.60) and Cassiopeia Sartiga (33.22).
Also claimed gold medals are Edgar Allan Maraga in the boys' 50m backstroke (29.25) and UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year and Games torch bearer Quendy Fernandez for Philippine Team-D in the girls' 50m back.
Team Malaysia A Shawn Voon Xuan Qing and Indonesian Hidayatullah Aril spoiled a sweep by the local swimmers, winning the boys 100m freestyle (54.76) and noys 200m breaststroke, respectively.
