THE Cebu City Niños swimming team closed its campaign with seven more gold medals yesterday bringing its overall harvest to a tournament-best 27 golds in the Philippine National Games (PNG) swimming competition at the Binirayan swimming pool, in San Jose, Antique.
The Niños also added 4 silvers and 6 bronzes in the final day of the event.
Cebuano stalwart Michael Ichiro Kong hiked his personal harvest to eight gold medals after bagging three more yesterday in the 200m Individual Medley (IM), 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle.
Fritz Tamara added a gold in the 50m backstroke while Trina Caneda pocketed a gold and silver in the 800m freestyle and 200m IM, respectively. Shane Allyne Pareja ruled the 100m breaststroke while Romylin Nina Ignacio accounted for the Niños’ final gold medal by topping the 200m IM. She also earned a bronze in the 50m backstroke.
Other Cebu City medalists yesterday were Beth Arellano (silver 50m backs and bronze 50m free), Rafael John Dacaldacal (silver 50m back, and bronze 100m breastroke), Nil Enrico Micarsos (silver 100m breast), Kirsty Carmel Pardo and Jaymark Buslon (bronze each in 100m butterfly) and Elvie Salvo (bronze 100m breast).
Although no official tally was made available, the Cebuanos are already beyond reach in the event’s overall standings.
An elated swimming head coach Rolando Alvarez said that their next target is the Batang Pinoy National Championship which Cebu will be hosting from No. 27 to Dec. 2.
The Niños’ unofficial tally stands at 27 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze medals in the three day event.