Albert Jose Amaro II and Sophia Rose Garra delivered podium finishes for the lean 10-man Philippine swimming team in their respective age-group classes at the 47th Southeast Asia Age-Group Swimming Championships, which culminate on Friday at the Singapore Sports Hub.
Both Palarong Pambansa standouts and record-breakers, Amaro claimed three medals, including the country’s lone gold. In contrast, Garra claimed a silver, a bronze, and two 4th placers in the three-day competition featuring the region’s best and toughest junior athletes and sanctioned by the World Aquatics.
The 17-year-old Amaro, an NCAA multi-medalist from San Beda College, clocked 25.15 seconds in the boys 16-18 50-meter butterfly, edging out Indonesian Jason Donovan Yusuf by a hairline (25.16). Tedd Windsor Chan of Singapore claimed the bronze at 25.23.
Amaro, who scooped a record seven gold medals in last year’s Palaro in Cebu City, fell short on his back-to-back gold medal campaign with a silver finish in the 100-m freestyle (51.54) behind eventual winner Quoc Tran Van Nguyen of Vietnam (50.85) at the close of the three-day event. Thai Skye Kingpayome settled for bronze at 51.66.
In the opening day, Amaro grabbed the bronze medal in the 100-m butterfly, clocking 55.72 seconds behind eventual winners Li Jie Goh of Malaysia (55.64) and Wongsakorn Patsamaran of Thailand (55.71). His teammates Fil-German Alecander Eichler and 2024 Asian Age-Group gold medal winner Jamesray Ajido finished 4th (55.82) and 5th (55.98), respectively.
Garra, protegee of Olympian Jenny Guerrero at the WaveRunners Swim Club, took the silver medal in the girls 13-under 200-m backstroke in a time of 2:24.33, behind Thai Oravee Intaporn-Udom (2:20.33). Haw Yek Wo of Singapore finished third at 2:24.68.
The 14-year-old from Malabon City got the bronze in the opening day, finishing third in the girls 13-under 200-m Individual Medley in a time of 2:31.37 behind Ovavee of Thailand (2:26.03) and Pimchanok (2:27.50).
Garra missed the podium in the 100-m backstroke (1:06.86) and 50-m back (31.25).
Another member of the team Fil-American Riannah Coleman finished ( 4th Place, 200m Breaststroke and 6th Place, 100m Breaststroke), Ryan Zach Belen ( 5th Place, 50m Backstroke); Patricia Mae Santor ( 4th Place, 200m Butterfly), and Kyla Bulaga, (6th Place, 200m Butterfly).
“Kudos to our young Philippine team for delivering another honor to our country from a tough international swimming campaign. To our young swimmers, my never-ending congratulations. And my heartfelt thanks for making winning a very welcome habit. Philippine swimming outlook is indeed looking great,” said Philippine Aquatics, Inc. Secretary General and head of delegation, Cong. Eric Buhain, who also attended the SEA Aquatics Council Meeting.
The Olympian and Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the MVP Foundation, SMART Communications, Speedo, and the Philippine Sports Commission.
