The Cebu City Niños flaunted their might in the pool, collecting 9 gold medals, 5 silvers and 4 bronzes at the first day of the Philippine National Games (PNG) Visayas Leg swimming competition at the Binirayan swimming pool, in Antique yesterday.
The massive first-day haul puts the Niños on target for their 10th swimming title this year, said head coach Rolando Alvarez.
Cebuano top dog Michael Ichiro Kong collared 3 gold medals after he triumphed in the 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200m Individual Medley (IM).
Trina Caneda chipped in 2 golds in the 400m freestyle and the 200m backstroke. Fritz Tamara bagged his lone gold medal in the 100m freestyle while Shane Allyne Pareja prevailed in the 50m breaststroke.
The Niños also secured the gold medal in the men’s 4x50m medley relay with the quartet of Rafael John Dacaldacal, Fritz Tamara, Nil Enrico Micarsos and Michael Ichiro Kong. The quartet of
Romylin Nina Ignacio, Shane Allyne Pareja, Bethmay Arellano and Trina Caneda also topped the women’s 4x50m Medley Relay.
Ignacio also collected 2 silvers in the 400m freestyle and 200m backstroke while Dacaldacal claimed a silver and bronze in the 200m backstroke and 50m breaststroke, respectively.
Kirsty Carmel Pardo won silver in the 200m butterfly while Micarsos also added a silver in the 50m breaststroke.
Winning bronze medals for the Niños are Elvie Salvo (50m breaststroke), Matthew Angelo Caneda (50m breaststroke) and Jaymark Buslon (200m butterfly).
The swimming competition will continue today and tomorrow.