BACOLOD — Banjo Borja made the biggest waves on Friday, while Marichi Gandioco also made her presence felt in the sixth Philippine Amateur Swimming Association National Age-Group Swimming Championships at the Panaad Sports Complex.
Borja clocked 1 minute and 7.48 seconds in the boys 11-12 years old 100 meter backstroke event and submitted a time of 2:26.33 in the 200-m IM to put his name on the growing list of qualifiers to the 29th Southeast Asian Age-Group meet that will be held in Brunei from June 3 to 5.
Representing Lake City Swim Club of San Pablo, Laguna, Borja, who took up the sport at the tender age of four, also made the grade in the 400-m IM late yesterday.
"My hardwork is paying off," said Borja, the youngest of three swimming siblings.
The pride and joy of the Alabang Harpoons, Gandioco, who qualified in the 15-17 400-m freestyle on Thursday, also shone bright in the 200-m IM.
Gandioco brought home a 200-m butterfly silver from the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games.
Denjylie Cordero of the Skipjacks team will also join the big-named tankers in Brunei after clocking 1:19.43 in the girls 11-12 100-m breast and 2:35.21 in the 200 IM and teammate Johanssen Aguilar presented decent clockings in the boys 11-12 100-m backstroke (1:09.85) and 200-back (2:30.37).
Going into Saturday’s competitions, 14 have already reserved seats for the Brunei event with Ryan Arabejo, Gerard Bordado and Ferdinand Frigillana leading the cast.
