By Edwin Rollon
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan—Philippine Team-A, comprised of athletes from Davao City, completed its dominance against local and foreign rivals and claimed the overall championship in the 11th BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asia Growth Area) Friendship Games, which came to a close on Thursday at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex.
Palarong Pambansa standout Paolo Miguel Labanon and UAAP campaigner Philip Sahagun led the Davaoenos' huge medal haul in the three-day competitions, which were revived after a six-year hiatus. They captured five gold medals each in the swimming competition.
The Philippine Team-A led by Mike Aportadera as head of the delegation won 30 gold, 37 silver, and 32 bronze for 99 medals in the four-nation meet organized by the Philippines Sports Commission and hosted by the City government of Puerto Princesa.
Labanon, a senior high school student at Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao, sizzled in boys 400m freestyle (4:14.01), 200m free (1:57.39), and 200m butterfly (2:12.09), while joining Sahagun in the victorious run in the 4x100 free (3:44.05) and 4x100 medley relay (4:06.66).
The Dela Salle-Taft student Sahagun, likewise topped the boys' 200m Individual Medley (2:13.52), 100m backstroke (1:00.82), and 200m back (2:14.38) as the Davao's twin ‘water beasts’ shared the most bemedalled athlete’s honor with Philippine Team-E and Puerto Princesa local star Quendy Fernandez.
A veteran internationalist and Games torch bearer matched the five-gold haul with her domination in the girls' 50m backstroke (30.22), 100m back (1:07.21), 200m back (2:27.62) while anchoring the team in the 4x50 medley relay (2:06.68) and 4x50m freestyle relay (1:55.76). The 19-year-old got the silver in the 4x100 freestyle relay 4:20.08 and 4x100 medley relay (4:48.78).
“We’re very happy with the overall performance of our athletes not just in swimming but in other five sports played here. Yung sports program naman natin sa Davao eh, tuloy tuloy kaya kondisyon ang ating mga atleta,” said Aportadera.
Also starring for the squad were trackster Milchay Moreno and swimmer Lora Micah Amoguis who both had two golds and a silver while karateka Jamie Danielle Nirza finished with a gold and a silver.
On the other hand, Malaysia B (17-16-17) earned the runner-up honor with 50 medals followed by Indonesia (14-8-5), and country’s team E (13-8-11), which was spearheaded by UP standout and PNG multi-champion Quendy Fernandez, at third and fourth places, respectively.
Clinching the fifth place is PH’s B (6-6-10), followed by Malaysia A (2-3-2), PH’s D (1-2-10), Brunei Darussalam (1-2-8), and PH’s C (1-2-1).
Last Wednesday afternoon, Philippines E reigned supreme in the esports event – where Mobile Legends: Bang Bang played – after pulling off a 3-1 triumph over PH’s D, which settled for silver. Malaysia and PH’s A took the bronze.
In sepak takraw at Palawan State University (PSU) Gym, the Indonesian bets conquered the men’s and women’s titles while PH team A bagged silver in both categories.
Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron, Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Walter Francis Torres, and officials and representatives from Mindanao Development Authority and the Department of Tourism graced the closing ceremonies held at the Balayong Basketball Covered Court highlighted the passing of the flag to Malaysia as the next host of the Games in 2026.
FINAL Standing Gold Silver Bronze Total
Philippines - A 30 37 32 99
Malaysia - B 17 16 17 50
Indonesia 14 8 5 27
Philippines – E 13 8 11 32
Philippines - B 6 6 10 22
Malaysia - A 2 3 2 7
Philippines - D 1 2 10 13
Brunei Darusalam 1 2 8 11
Philippines C 1 2 1 4
