DAVAO City's swimming and athletics teams sustained their gold medal streak for Mindanao Team A-Philippines A on Day 2 of the 11th BIMPNT Eaga Friendship Games on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Decorated swimmer Paolo Miguel Labanon of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MMCM) secured two of the five gold medals won by Mindanao Team A on Day 2, which also saw the team collect eight silvers and four bronzes. The Davao team amassed six golds, five silvers, and six bronzes on Day 1 of the swimming competition on Monday, December 2.
Labanon clinched the boys' 400-meter freestyle gold medal with a time of 4:14.01, outpacing teammate Rodolfo Paolo Apilado III (4:33.00) and Shawn Voon Xuan Qing (4:37.33) of Malaysia Team B. His second gold came in the boys' 200-meter butterfly, where he clocked 2:12.09 to beat Indonesia’s Hidayatullah Aril (2:12.57) and Apilado (2:19.30).
On Day 1, Labanon anchored Mindanao Team A’s boys' 4x100m freestyle relay team, joining forces with Philip Adrian Sahagun, Pietro Dominic Requiza, and John Michael Catamco to secure another gold medal.
"It is great having three golds so far in this competition despite just training weeks before this event. I recently competed in the Asian Age Group open water held in Hong Kong," Labanon shared in a Messenger interview with VoxPop Davao on Tuesday evening.
Sahagun claimed his third gold by dominating the boys' 100m backstroke with a time of 1:00.82, defeating Indonesia’s Egie Zewail Muhammad (1:04.28) and teammate John Raphael Rodriguez (1:07.77).
Meanwhile, Davao’s Liaa Margarette Amoguis triumphed in the girls' 200m butterfly with a time of 2:34.09, edging out teammate Juliana Marien Villanueva (2:37.88) and Maglia Jaye Dignadice (2:47.75) of Puerto Princesa Team E.
“I’m glad to contribute to Philippine Team A. Winning this race feels special despite being exhausted from back-to-back competitions. I feel proud of myself for giving it my all and pushing myself,” Amoguis said. She competed in the Uaap from November 17 to 20 at New Clark City and the Batang Pinoy National Championships from November 24 to 28 in Palawan.
Her victory is a milestone, improving on her silver finish in the same event during the 2018 BIMPNT EAGA Games in Brunei.
Mindanao Team A also struck gold in the boys' 4x50m freestyle relay with a strong team performance by Juan Alessandro Suarez, Jian Paul Baulos, Yuan Gabriel Taojo, and Catamco, defeating Malaysia Team B and Puerto Princesa City Team E.
Other Day 2 swimming medalists for Mindanao Team A included Lora Micah Amoguis (girls 100m backstroke), boys 4X50 medley relay team of Niel Joaquin Tebar, Jobahri Dilangalen, Shem Gabriel Bello, and Khein Taer, girls 4X50m medley relay team of Stacy Brenice Requiza, Mira Claire Catayas, Cassiopiea Bianca Sartiaga, and Allen Joy Santos, Villanueva (400m freestyle), and girls 4X50m freestyle relay team of Requiza, Rissa Angelian Sahagun, and the Amoguis sisters Liaa Margarette and Lora Micah.
Meanwhile, bronzes were from Jon Raphael Rodriguez (boys 100m backstroke), Dilangalen (boys 50m breaststroke), and Rissa (50m breaststroke).
In athletics, Desiree Alaba and Mary Jane Pagayon delivered golds in the girls' long jump and 800m run, respectively.
"Happy po kay nakamedal ko wala ko nag-expect na makamedal kay sa akong injuries (I’m happy to win a medal. I didn’t expect it because of my injuries)," said Alaba, who was battling lower back and ankle injuries.
Pagayon, for her part, bagged the women's 800m title with a time of 2:25.48, defeating teammates Kate Duffy Gel McDowell (2:27.65) and Realyn Sorolla (2:35.93).
Pagayon admitted feeling nervous but focused on her race, making a decisive break in the final 150 meters to clinch the win.
Mindanao Team A also claimed two gold medals on Day 1, with Milchay Moreno dominating the women’s 400m run and Jhonmark Sedoripa excelling in the men’s shot put. MLSA