Newbie swimmer Kristian Cabana emerged victorious in his first big-time attempt in an elite contest even as Evenezer Polancos and Aubrey Tom topped the field in dramatic fashion as the Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy National Championships got underway with swimming competition on Saturday at the Quirino Stadium’s pool here.
Cabana, a 10th grader at the Manuel S. Enverga University, picked up speed in the second phase of his race in the 12-and-under 200-meter individual medley to check in at two minutes and 29.50 seconds and pluck the five-day meet’s first gold for Lucena City.
“Sa second part ko po kinuha at kumawala. Tapos saka na ako humataw,” said Cabana, who was encouraged by his elder brother Johann, who swims for University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
Polancos, a ninth grader from General Santos City National High School, defied his rival Peter Cyrus Dean’s size, to claim the meet’s second gold in 200m IM for boys 13-15 years old in 2:18.50.
“Masaya po ako. Mas mahina po kasi ang langoy ko nung 2019,” said Polancos, who was fourth place when he competed in 12-under boys 100-meter buttefly event three years ago.
The two will most likely share the top honors with comebacking Aubrey Tom, who is expected to earn the gold medal after the results in the 13-15-year-old 200-meter IM that was voluntarily corrected by coach Jaime Villa.
Villa happens to be the same mentor for Tom and rival Alyssa Cabatian.
Cabatian of Team Rizal was erroneously recorded as the winner after a clerical error put her time at 1:49.50.
The 15-year-old Tom, winner of five gold medals as a 12-year-old in the 2019 Batang Pinoy, is expected to replace Cabatian following a formal inquiry.
Tom submitted a clocking of 2:35.8 at no. 2, and she would mostly be awarded the gold after organizers, led by tournament director Danny Anore, made a review and the necessary adjustment to the results.
Cabana, who started training only last year and after getting stuck at home during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, said he expects to get more podium finishes, and more golds when he sees action in move events in the coming days.
Cabana will see action in the butterfly events of the 50-meters, the 100-meters and the 100-meters in the next few days.
“Excited po ako. Kasi, hindi ko po inaasahan na makaka gold ako dahil marami pong malalakas,” added Cabana.
Kevin Chan of Valenzuela and Daniel Ocampo settled for the silver and bronze behind Cabana, with the clockings of 2:13.40 and 2:35.30.
Dean earned a silver behind Polancos as he came in at 2:18.90, and Shan Medina of Mabalacat in 2:22.70.
Tom, a student University of the Philippine Integrated School, said she was happy with her start, which came two weeks after she claimed the two titles in the 85th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior meet.
A Season 82 Rookie of the Year awardee, Tom had earlier taken the golds in the 200-m butterfly gold and 50-m freestyle in the UAAP meet.
“I feel good, regardless of what happened before,” said Tom, who could come up with strong performances in the coming days, regardless of the final outcome of her opening day competition.
