Barreto, DL Cruz worthy PH Team spearheads in Hanoi

Swimmer Miguel Barreto. PSI PHOTO

There’s hardly any doubt that ace swimmers Miguel Barreto and Thanya dela Cruz will be suiting up in the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, after the standouts from the Ayala Harpoons Swim Club rose to the occasion in the Philippine Swimming Inc. National Open that ended on Sunday.

After Dela Cruz erased her own national record in the 50-meter breast and ruled the 50 m free, the 19-year-old added the 100 m (1:13.66) and 200 m breaststroke (2:45.42) in her cache of gold medals to emerge as the top performer on the women’s side of the event that served as tryouts for home-based national team aspirants for the SEA Games.

“It was a good showing for me after winning four gold medals. But while I was expecting to win the 50 m breast, the victory in the 50 m free came as a surprise because it was just an added event for me,’’ said Dela Cruz, a graduate of San Lorenzo High School.

The 19-year-old Barreto likewise sparkled in the pool as the swimmer with the most gold medals in the previous Palarong Pambansa brought his act to the newly-refurbished Rizal Memorial Sports Complex swimming pool in Manila.

Following his triumphs in the men’s 200 m individual medley and 400 m free on opening-day Friday, Barreto was never doubted in topping the 100 m, 200 m and 800 m free as well over the next two days.

Barreto was part of the Philippine swim team in the 2019 SEA Games where the freestyle specialist, who was only 16 years old then, reached the semifinals of the men’s 400 m free.

Turning in the work

The pride of Malolos, Bulacan, ruled the 100 m free in 53.03 seconds, the 200 m free in 1:55.97 and the 800 m in 8:52.01 after clocking fastest in the 400 m free (4:13.08) and 200 m IM (2:13.97).

“I just train hard everyday with the mindset of improving my clocking every time I swim,’’ said Barreto, who won seven golds in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa as anchor of the National Capital Region’s dominance in the pool.

Mishka Sy also showed flashes of her brilliance as the 17-year-old from the Quezon City Sports Club Buccaneers Swim Club pocketed the golds in the women’s 50 m (31.89s), 100 m (1:08.91) and 200 m (2:28.91) backstroke.

Xiandi Chua of All-Star Swim Club was also a cut above the rest in the 200 m (2:23.31) and 400 m IM (5:07.25) as well as in the 100 m (59.26) and 200 m free (2:08.91). INQ