Jordan Ken Lobos got his revenge against noted rivals as he led the Philippine BEST (Behrouz Elite Swimming Team) in another productive performance on the penultimate day of the 2022 Philippine Swimming Incorporated National Open on Saturday at the newly renamed Olympic standard Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
The 19-year-old Lobos, a product of Calayan Educational Foundation Incorporated in Lucena City, rebounded from his loss in the 50-meter events on Friday as he beat his rivals in the men’s 100-m breaststroke with a time of one minute and six seconds.
Lobos beat Samuel Alcos of Ateneo Blue Knights (1:06.07) and third placer Rafael Isip of Ayala Harpoons (1:07.02).
Swimming protégé and junior national record holder Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh and Jules Mirandilla, both delivered gold medals on opening day, finishing second this time as BEST made a promising run in the ranking system in the tournament serving as part of the PSI selection process in forming a competitive National Team to compete in the various international meets, including the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 12 to 27.
Dubbed the ‘Water Beast’, Mojdeh, the Grade 10 student at the Brent International in Laguna and product of the late Olympian Susan Papa’s grassroots program, finished second in the women’s 50m butterfly (29.65) and 400m Individual Medley (5:16.29).
On opening day on Friday, Mojdeh took the gold medal in the women’s 100-m butterfly (1:03.09) against a veteran field, which included former UAAP champion and National team mainstay Kisten Chloe Datos (1:04.10). She finished second in women’s 200-m Individual Medley (2:28.48) behind another Nationals Xiandi Chua of La Salle (2:23.31).
For his part, Mirandilla, who ruled the men’s 100m butterfly on the opening day, wound up second this time in the men’s 50m butterfly (25.70).
Another veteran international campaigner in Marcus Johannes De Kam finally secured a podium finish with a third-place performance in the men’s 200m freestyle (1:59.81), while John Neil Paderes followed up his second-place feat in the men’s 100-m backstroke on the first day of the three-day meet with a third-place showing in the 200-m backstroke (2:13.81).
After two days of competition, the BEST squad has garnered three gold, five silver, and three bronze medals, with Mojdeh leading the women’s individual ranking with 71 points—11 points ahead of Thany De La Cruz (60 points) and Xiandi Chua (60 points).
In the men’s division, Joshua Del Rio occupies the No. 1 position with 86 points followed by Miguel Barreto (60) and De Kam (59).
“We are hoping to close out our campaign on a high note. It’s really boosting our swimmer’s morale, looking back the lost time and chances due to lockdown,” said Joan Mojdeh, Jasmine’s mother and BEST team manager.
