ACCUMULATING a score of 332 points, the Cagayan de Oro Swim Club dominated for the second-straight year the Long Course G-League Swimming Championship concluded here recently at Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center's 50m pool.
Riding on the crest of Jethro Chua and Mark Lorene Gatinao's dazzling expedition plus another brilliant performance by 2010 Palarong Pambansa silver medallist Gail Maxine Carbajal, the Oro tankers edged out closest pursuer South Cotabato Valley Swim Club (260 points) for the overall championship honors in the Pasa-sanctioned event for Area 5 development in Mindanao.
Chua took 5 golds in 14-year-old boys level, wrapping up the day with a 19:34.98 time in 1,500m freestyle event. A feat that was duplicated by Gatinao (20:01.34) in same event for the 15-year-old boys bracket.
Not to be outdone, Carbajal stamped her class in 50m and 200m freestyle as well as in 200m IM and 50m backstroke events, even shattering her old record (11:27.47) in 800m freestyle by finishing at 10:57.20 seconds.
The Northshore Waves Swim Club (NSWSC), on the other hand, benefitted much from the solid effort made by the tandem of Leah Margaret Martinez and Sharise Myka Miaco who scooped up a combined 10 golds.
The 15-year-old Martinez, who studies at St. Mary's School, ruled the 200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200 IM and 100m butterfly events. She also shaved off more than 10 seconds in 800m freestyle with a 10:37.42 clocking that broke her old time of 10:47.50 worth for another gold.
Martinez thus qualified for the national junior squad bound to the 34th SEA Age Group Swimming Championships on June 3-5. Miaco likewise hurdled the same events designed for contestants in 14-year-old girls class.
Oro compatriots Clark Anthony Kent Go and Ian Gabriel Dilao, meanwhile, essayed their respective events.
Go showed his superiority in 200 and 1,500m freestyle events for boys 13-year-old, while Dilao went unchallenged in 200m freestyle and 200m backstroke. Dilao capped the day with another double victories in 200 and 800m freestyle events being equalled by fellow Tarlac Palaro campaigner Alexandra Louisse Goyeneche in the distaff side.
Completing the cast of CdeO Swim Club qualifiers to the national championships are Wayne Matthew Marte, Jason Patrick Bondoc, Jessa Angela Gacus, Sixto Abeth Lalanto and Anna Katrina Balandra of Aquaknights Swim Club.
Other golden finishers were Dominic Sabornido and Aisha Jasmine Tan.
NSWSC's Michael Martinez had organized the event in cooperation with the CdeO Swim Club to discover the country's next national swimmers from this northern part of Mindanao.
rSwim Club Ranking
1st place -- Cagayan de Oro Swim Club 332 pts
2nd place -- South Cotabato Valley Swim Club 260 pts
3rd place -- Coastland Davao Swim Club with 241 pts
4th place -- Ichns Gray Sharks Swim Club 226 pts
5th place -- Northshore Waves Swim Club 213 pts
6th place -- Iligan Spring Eels Swim Club 205 pts
7th place -- Icbc-Nlca Blue Dolphins ST 111 pts
8th place -- Plunge And Swim Team 96 pts
9th place -- First United Davao City ST 62 pts
10th place -- Aqua Knights Swim Club 60 pts
11th place -- Gensan Warriors Swim Club 51 pts
12th place -- Blue Sharks Swim Club 22 pts
(With reports from Arlito Augusto P. Rivera)