Zamboanga City—As expected, the Philippine Army grabbed nine golds to dominate the first day of the medal-rich swimming competitions at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex Aquatic Center.
Ronnie Tayom, Reymond Pelisan, Herjamie Guiao, Jellie S. Somera, and Jovaira Valle cornered two golds apiece in their respective events to lead the Army cadets’ onslaught with still plenty of time to spare.
Wendelen Sangcom was the lone from the dreaded army squad to snare a lone gold on a rather good humid day.
Tayom ruled the men’s 200-m individual medley in 3:07.02 as well as the men’s 50-m backstroke in 37.04, while Pelisan won the men’s 100-m freestyle in 1:09.84 and Guiao easily romped 37.73 to win the men’s 50-m butterfly and the men’s 200-m breaststroke in 3:58.83.
Somera, on the other hand, proved too much in the women’s 100-m freestyle in 1:22.38 and the women’s 50-m backstroke in 41.55, while Valle made her presence felt in the women’s 200-m individual medley in 4:13.62 and the women’s 50-m butterfly 45.30.
The Air Force cadets likewise settled with six golds courtesy of John Austin Hampac in the men’s 100-m freestyle in 59.33 and in the men’s 50-m butterfly in 28.06.
Teammate Daniella Melburn followed suit with two golds from women’s 100-m freestyle (1:37.76) and women’s 50-m butterfly (42.75).
But teammates Christian Adrino and Rashiden Minor had only one gilt from the men’s 50-m backstroke (51.78) and 200-m backstroke (3:59..24), respectively.
The Navy Sailors brought home three golds all from Haji Al-Jhaes in men’s 50-m butterfly (31.43) and men’s 200-m individual medley (2.59.90) while his third gold came from the men’s 50-m backstroke to become the winningest cadet-athlete.
Exciting actions continue today as arnis and chess will be played at the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology Gymnasium, while athletics and swimming will be held at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex.
Also playing today are kickboxing, boxing, and taekwondo at the Western Mindanao State University, 5×5 basketball at the Universidad de Zamboanga Summit Center, volleyball at the Zamboanga Peninsula State University gymnasium, sepak takraw at the Universidad de Zamboanga Institute of Human Kinetics.
Debuting sports discipline target shooting will be at the Edwin Andrews Airbase firing range and raiders competition at the 54th Engineering Brigade in Barangay Cabatangan.