As expected, junior standouts from Paranaque-BEST and Calayan Foundation showed their dominance, but a swimming prospect from Cavite stole the limelight from much-established opponents in the FINIS-Southern Tagalog Cup age-group swimming competition over the weekend at the Quezon National High School Swimming Pool in Lucena, Quezon.
National junior team candidates Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Julia Ysabelle Basa, Jordan Ken Lobos, Marcus De Kam and Huge Antonio Parto stamped their class, but swimming prospect Shania Joy Baraquiel shone brightest in the one-day, 15-team competition as part of the Swim League Philippines grassroots sports development program.The 15-year-old Baraquiel overtook national record holder and Palarong Pambansa champion Mojdeh in the 15-over 50-meter backstroke with a new meet record of 33.57 seconds.
The BEST standout submitted a time of 34.89 for silver, while Reneilly Trinidad of Calayan Educational Foundation was third (35.23).
In the 50-meter freestyle, Baraquiel repeated over Mojdeh (30.89) with a time of 29.33 to lead the Cavite Sea Beast Swimming Team capture the overall team championship with a total of 401 points in the competition sponsored by FINIS Philippines, McDonald’s Philippines, Behrouz Persian Cuisine, and City Government of Lucena.
Calayan Educational Foundation took second place overall with 347 points, followed by Batangas Gator (350), Quezon Killer Whale (345), Manuel Enverga (324) and Paranaque Killer Whale (312).
Mojdeh, a multi-titled junior internationalist and Grade 10 student at Brent International in Laguna, bounced back from a duel with Baraquiel (32.20) when she won the girls’ 15-over 50-m butterfly with a time of 30.29 seconds, while the bronze went to Renavive Subida of Blumen Orca (32.42.)
Dubbed ‘Water Beast’ for her dominating performances, Mojdeh then won the 200-meter Individual medley with a new meet record of 2: 40.01 against Bela Magatibay (2: 40.73) and Subida (2: 50.41), as well as the 50-m breaststroke in another new meet record of 36.51 seconds.
“We’re so happy and blessed at nakabalik ang mga bata sa face-to-face action. Hindi namin inaasahan na ganito karami ang sasali considering na mahabang panahon ang lockdown. Pero mas nagulat kami at na-impress sa personal best time ng mga bata. Marami ang stand out. Ipagpapatuloy namin ito, para mas marami tayong ma-discover na talent for our future team to international competition,” said SLP president Joan Mojdeh.
With three gold, one silver, and one bronze medal, Mojdeh captured the top female individual award for the 15-over class holding a total of 49 points.