PHILIPPINES (PH) Team A, led by Davao City swimmers, emerged as the overall champion, harvesting 19 gold medals, 16 silvers, and 18 bronzes as the 11th BIMPNT-Eaga Friendship Games swimming competition concluded on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Trailing behind were PH Team E (9-5-2), PH Team B (4-4-6), Indonesia (2-6-3), and Malaysia Team B (2-5-7), finishing second to fifth, respectively.
On the final day, PH Team A amassed eight golds, three silvers, and seven bronzes. Dabawenyos Philip Adrian Sahagun of De La Salle University and Paolo Miguel Labanon of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MMCM) led the charge with five golds each, excelling in three individual events and two relays.
Sahagun clinched the boys’ 200m backstroke gold on Day 3, while Labanon dominated the boys’ 200m freestyle. Together with teammates Juan Alessandro Suarez and Pietro Dominic Requiza, they sealed victory in the boys’ 4x100m medley relay.
Sahagun previously won gold in the boys' 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley (IM), while Labanon claimed gold in the 400m freestyle and 200m butterfly events. The duo also teamed up with Requiza and John Michael Catamco to secure gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Reflecting on his Eaga Games performance, Sahagun said in a Messenger interview with VoxPop Davao, "It's okay but I'm not satisfied with most of my time." Despite his five golds, he shared plans to rest before preparing for UAAP Season 88.
Sahagun shared that his confidence in winning gold grew after securing victory in the 200m IM.
At that point, I knew I was still in good condition and capable of winning more.
Philip Adrian Sahagun
Labanon celebrated his five-gold haul, calling it a perfect end to his 2024 season. “This year was pretty good because I joined more fun competitions. My most memorable experience was competing internationally as I met new friends, become better as I compete side by side with them,” he said in a separate interview.
Sahagun’s younger sister, Rissa Angelian, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Ateneo de Davao University, captured the girls’ 100m breaststroke gold and contributed to PH Team A’s victory in the girls’ 4x100m medley relay alongside Lora Micah and Liaa Margarette Amoguis, and Juliana Marien Villanueva.
Rissa concluded her campaign with an impressive four golds (including the 200m breaststroke and 4x100m freestyle relay), one silver (4x50m freestyle relay), and one bronze (50m breaststroke). "I was really surprised to see my times because I thought my times would be higher than what I got," she said.
Liaa Margarette also shone with four golds, one silver, and one bronze. On December 4, she claimed the girls’ 100m butterfly gold, adding to her earlier wins in the 200m butterfly and 4x100m freestyle relay. She plans to take a break from swimming to focus on schoolwork after missing three weeks due to back-to-back competitions, including the UAAP and Batang Pinoy National Championships.
My 2024 season was full of experiences and opportunities. I started the year by not believing in my capabilities to gaining confidence in myself. I am proud of my growth and the lessons I received in all my competitions this year.
Liaa Margarette Amoguis
Other PH Team A medalists on Day 3 delivered impressive performances, adding to the team's haul. John Michael Catamco struck gold in the boys' 50m freestyle, while Jian Paul Baulos clinched gold in the boys' 100m butterfly. Pietro Dominic Requiza secured silver in the boys' 50m freestyle, alongside Stacy Brenice Requiza and Juliana Marien Villanueva, who bagged silvers in the girls' 50m freestyle and 200m freestyle.
Bronze medalists included Mira Claire Catayas in the girls' 50m freestyle, Niel Joaquin Tebar in the boys' 200m freestyle, and Lora Micah Amoguis in the girls' 200m backstroke. Juan Alessandro Suarez added another bronze in the boys' 100m breaststroke, joined by Khein Taer in the boys' 100m butterfly. Cassiopeia Bianca Sartiga and Aireen Jade Andaya rounded out the medal count with bronzes in the girls' 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle. MLSA