Cebu City—Eighteen-year-old swimmer Nicole Meah Pamintuan capped a one-woman show of force with a fifth gold medal to become one of the two most bemedalled athletes of the 9th Philippine National Games at the Cebu City Sports Center pool here.
Pamintuan accounted for all of Sta. Rosa, Laguna’s five gold medals after she claimed her last in the women’s 200-meter freestyle in two minutes and 15.69 seconds.
General Santos City bet Camilo Russel Owen dela Torre matched Pamintuan’s feat after he collected five gold medals in the men’s division on the final day of the swimming competition.
“Sobrang saya. Kasi kahit nagkasakit ako, nakuha pa rin ang 5-of-5 na target,” said Pamintuan, who said she was rushed to the hospital last week following a bout with gastritis during training.
A member of the national age-group team, Pamintuan said her condition somehow slowed her down, but this did not stop her from coming up with her best since last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Antique.
At that time, Pamintuan an incoming 12th grader at La Salle Zobel, and last year’s junior division MVP in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines season, ended her stint with six golds, including a record-breaking feat in the 200-meter freestyle.
But this time, Pamintuan said she felt heavy that her clocking was eight seconds off her best time in the Palarong Pambansa.
This moved lowly Sta. Rosa from 21st place to 19th spot in the overall standings, dominated by host Cebu City and Baguio City.
The 18-year-old Dela Torre, who is heading for college at the University of Perpetual Help-Las Pinas, finished his campaign for General Santos City with five golds after snaring the mints in the men’s 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter butterfly.
La Torre said he is elated over his good showing and after getting only one bronze medal in the recent Palarong Pambansa. He could have won a sixth gold, but La Torre and members of General Santos City’s 4×100 meter relay team settled for the bronze medal. His other gold medals came from the 400-meter individual medley, the 400meter freestyle and the 1500-meter freestyle.
Cebu City remained a dominant force in the overall medal race with its tally of 20 golds, 27 silvers and 28 bronzes, after getting a lift from national team member OJ de los Santos in karatedo and from four others in athletics.
Baguio City remained firm in second place with its 17-24-18 tally, followed by Mandaluyong City (13-7-7) and General Santos City (13-7-7).
Mandaue City (12-6-6) is in fifth, with Leyte Province (9-5-2) sixth.