PALARONG Pambansa standout Anton Paulo Dominick Della secured an age-group silver in the men’s 10-kilometer race, kicking off the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission in Boracay.
Swimming in ideal conditions at the course off the Boracay Newcoast overlooking the Sibuyan Sea, Della clocked two hours and 20 seconds in placing second in the 18-19-year-old division.
The 17-year-old pride of San Fernando, La Union, who bagged four golds in the last Palarong Pambansa held in Agusan del Sur, actually narrowly missed a podium finish in the Open division by a stroke out of the 31 entries who swam.
“I swam a tactical race by trying to keep myself in the lead pack. The weather was good from the first to four rounds while from the fifth and sixth rounds it was a bit wavy or choppy,” said Della.
“You need to last long in this kind of race so I drafted behind the lead swimmers so it didn’t get heavy so much before making my move in the last 500 meters,” he added.
Sharing the spotlight with Della was Dianna Celyn Cruz, who bucked painful hips to bag bronze in the 20-year-old and above women’s class (2:48.17), finishing 16th overall in the meet organized by the Philippine Aquatics Inc. and sanctioned by the Southeast Asian Swimming Federation. / RSC from PR
