PSL tankers reign supreme in Tokyo’s Buccaneers swimfest
Smaller in sizes but big in fighting hearts, the Philippine Swimming League swimmers created a huge splash by ruling the overall title in the 2017 Buccaneer Invitational Swimming Championship at the St. Mary’s International School swimming pool in Tokyo, Japan.
The young swimmers bannered by record-breakers Marc Bryan Dula of Wisenheimer Academy and Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh of Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Parañaque ended their campaign in a blazing fashion as they repeated their awesome first day performance by winning 17 gold medals in the final day of competition of the annual event participated by more than 25 teams from all over the world.
Overall the Philippines won 34 golds, 19 silvers and 21 bronzes.
“We are looking forward to be here again next year and hopefully defend our overall title,” said PSL President Susan Papa, who also headed the delegation. Other officials who joined the trip were PSL Secretary General Maria Susan Benasa, NCR Regional Director Joan Mojdeh and assistant coach Alex Papa.
The team, which gained support from the active Fil-Japanese community paid a courtesy call to Ed Manez, deputy chief of mission and consul Marge Malang of the Philippine Embassy in Roppongi. Manez congratulated the PSL for making the country proud.
Filipino community leaders Marilyn ‘’Mama Aki’’ Yokokji, Myles Beltran and Japanese boxing promoter Hiroshi Katsumata accompanied the contingent to the Philippine embassy.
Dula dominated the boys’ 9-10 100m butterfly in 1:15.58 smashing the 1:15.99 old mark while Mojdeh checked in at 1:07.85 in the girls’ 11-12 100m butterfly, besting the previous record of 1:07.88.
Also winning gold medals were Aishel Cid Evangelista (boys’ 8-under 50m freestyle, 100m Individual Medley);
Aubrey Tom (girls’ 9-10 100m IM,50m freestyle); Kyla Soguilon (girls’ 11-12 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m IM); Richelle Anne Callera (girls’ 8-under 50m butterfly); Master Charles Janda (boys’ 8-under 25m backstroke, 50m butterfly (39.20)); Triza Tabamo (girls’ 9-10 50m backstroke); boys’ 8-under 100m medley relay of Evangelista, Janda, Charles Andallo and Leodd Dalman; girls’ 9-10 200m medley relay of Tom, Tabamo, Martina Estrella and Alex Rejuso; girls’ 11-12 200m medley relay of Mojdeh, Soguilon, Chloe Laurente and Sophia Barcelo; and boys’ 11-12 200m medley relay of Arbeen Thruelen, Lee Grant Gabral, Raindale Ching and Albert Sermonia.
The other members of the Philippine teams were Diliman Preparatory School standout Paul Christian King Cusing, Trump Christian Luistro,, Felice Alexis Reyes,Rio Lorenzo Malapitan, Julyiana Cassiopea Calibjo, Lucio Cuyong , Diane Fabicon, Zachie Gallegos, Jairus Lester Laguidao, Angelo Macaraig, Edgar Danzel Roberto, Tiffany Shaine Sanchez, Remogenes Sobretodo, Kobe Soguilon, John Rylle Villagomeza and Shyne Nicole Villagomeza.
