AISHEL Evangelista, Patrica Mae Santor and Ricielle Maleeka Melencio completed their dominance and claimed the Most Outstanding Swimmer (MOA) awards in their respective classes on Sunday at the close of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics (COPA) ‘One For All-All For One’ National Capital Region Swimming Championship at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Battling sadness after losing his father-coach Elcid to heat stroke just a couple of weeks ago, the 14-year-old Evangelista splashed his way to the coveted title with a sweep of his last three events, hiking his gold medal haul to eight and one silver in the three-day tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) and supported by Speedo and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Before a packed crowd which included members of his family and COPA co-founder Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain, the Grade 8 student from the University of Santo Tomas topped the boys’ 200m butterfly (2:20.16), 100m backstroke (1:07.94) and 50m freestyle (26.83).
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Diyos ay binigyan ako ng kalakasan ng katawan para matupad ko ‘yung misyon ko na mabigyan ng regalo ang aking namayapang ama (Elcid). Para po sa kanya ito, alam ko masaya siya sa tagumpay ko,” said Evangelista.
He felt honored since the tournament doubled as a tribute for his father – a COPA-coach member – as part of the tournament’s proceeds will go to his family.
The Betta Caloocan swim Team pride had his other gold medals in the 100m freestyle (57.56), 400m IM (4:53.63), 200m freestyle (2:03.58), 100m butterfly (1:03.22), and 200m backstroke (2:27.58). He finished second to Kean Paragatos (31.34) in the 50m backstroke with a time of 31.39.
“We’re proud of him. Talagang naka-focus sa laban kahit may pinagdadaanan. Ganyang mind-set ang kailangan natin sa Philippine Team,” said Buhain, also the PAI secretary general.
On the other hand, Melencio proved to be a force to reckon with in the girls’ 18-over class, stamping her class in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:11.21, beating rivals raven Alcoseba (1:11.96) and Dianna Cruz (1:17.31) and in the 50m free, clocking 28.97 against Milcah Mina (29.17) and Shairinne Floriano (29.51).
A freshman student at Ateneo University, Melencio also bested the field in the 400m IM (5:30.21), 200m freestyle (2:17.63), and 100m free (1:02.76) during the first two days of the meet.
or her part, the 16-year-old Santor, a member of the Philippine Team in the Asian Age Group tilt last February in Clark, topped the girls’ 16-under 200m butterfly (2:27.53) against Savinnah Oliveros (2:42.38).
Santor previously won the 400m Individual Medley (5:21.84), 200m freestyle ( 2:18.47), 100m freestyle (1:04.16), 100m butterfly (1:06.89), while leading the squad in the 400m medley relay (4:56.87). She had a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke.
