Pauline Beatriz Obebe is poised to run away with the coveted Most Outstanding Swimmer award as she hiked her gold-medal haul to six even as Nicola Queen Diamante and Anya Dela Cruz remained solid in their performances on Sunday during the second day of the COPA (Congress in Philippine Sports, Inc.) Reunion Swim Challenge National Finals at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool at the Rizal Memorial Sports Center in Malate, Manila.
The pride of Aqua Sprint of coach Manny Thruelen collected six gold medals after two days of action, winning the girls’ 12 Class A 100-m freestyle (1:08.34), 100-m butterfly (1:14.93) and 50-m breaststroke (46.01).
On opening day, the 11-year-old dominated the 100-m breast (1:39:95), 200-m back (3:00.69) and 50-m butterfly (58 seconds) in the tournament backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, MILO and Speedo.
“Gusto ko pong maging member ng Philippine Team in the future kaya talagang sinusunod ko ang program ni coach Manny. Next week, try ko pong maka-gold pa rin,” said Obebe referring to the continuation of the meet organized by COPA, in collaboration with the Samahang Manlalangoy sa Pilipinas.
For her part, Diamante won the girls’ Class A 100-m fly, clocking 1:21.84 after anchoring the RSS Dolphins to a bronze-medal finish in the mixed 200-m individual medley (2:12.91).
Obebe’s teammate Anya Dela Cruz also shone in the 9-year-old class, claiming the gold in the 100-m fly (1:35.72) and 100-m free (1:25.21).
Tournament director and COPA Board member Chito Rivera said the group decided to stretch the tournament to four days in two consecutive weekends to accommodate the big number of participants, which included underprivileged students from public schools and athlete with disabilities.
“We did this para hindi masayang ‘yung exposure and experience to swim in an international-environment competition. Our swimmers need to find what event they really fit in,” said Rivera, also the head coach of JRU swimming team in the NCAA.
“With the support from both the public and private sectors and with the guidance of COPA founder Eric Buhain and two-time Olympian Pinky Brosas, we’re planning to hold much bigger tournaments in December and in the first quarter of 2023. ‘Yung educational program ng COPA sa coach mas palalakasin natin,” said Rivera.
Other winners in Day 2 were Janna Articulo in girls’ 12-years Class C 100-m fly (1:36.22); Jhoi Araos in class C Girls’ 9-year-old 100-m fly (2:11.23); Allianah Keith in 10-year class 100-m (1:30.05); John Lee in boys’ 100-m fly ( 1:51.96), Godfrey Pagurayan in boys’ 9 yrs 100-m fly (2:01.45) and Kai Mangubat in boys 10 yrs 100-m fly (1:55.14).