PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The scorching heat did not bother De La Salle’s ace Philip Adrian Sahagun as he breezed past his rivals to give the Philippines its first gold medal in the swimming event of the 11th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games here at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex Monday morning, Dec. 2.

Sahagun, 21, who represents the country’s Team A, splashed his way and registered 2 minutes and 13.52 seconds – just a hairline faster than his closest pursuer in Indonesia’s Hidayatullah Aril (2:13.83) – to capture the boys’ 200m IM crown. Aril and Philippines A’s Rodolfo Apilado III (2:20.82) captured the silver and bronze honors, respectively, in the 8-man finals.

“I didn’t expect to win, kasi two weeks ago kakagaling kolang ng UAAP and I didn’t have [enough] time to prepare for this kasi gusto ko rin po makapag-hinga. One week po ako walang training at all,” said the third-year BS Entrepreneurship student in La Salle. 

“Pero ang mindset ko lang is swim for the Philippines,” he added. “No’ng last lap, medyo nakaramdam po ako ng sakit ng katawan ko pero nakita kopo ‘yong kalaban ko na humahabol kaya i-push ko na… ando’n napo ako sa una kaya sabi ko ‘di kona po ibibigay ‘tong gold.”

Hours after his feat, Sahagun bagged his second gold medal along with his teammates in the 4x100 boys’ 400m freestyle relay where they clocked 3 minutes and 44.05 seconds, beating Malaysia’s Team B (3:50.05) and Indonesia (3:55.73).

Up next for the UAAP two-time bronze medalist are 200 IM and 200m backstroke, 100m backstroke events, 4x100m medley.

In the distaff side, Ateneo and PH’s Team A bet Lora Micah Amoguis impressed as well after snaring the gold in her pet event – girls’ 200m IM – where she timed in 2 minutes and 30.73 seconds.

Amoguis, a BS Life Sciences freshman, despite nursing shoulder fatigue, stressed her dedication to put up a stellar performance to boost her six-event campaign this year.

“I’m very glad na ito ang first gold ko, ‘tong pet event ko, and I dedicated this to the country,” said Amoguis. 

“First time ko talaga maka-experience ng ganto (injury scare). This is for my coaches, parents and my family po,” she added.

Other Filipino swimmers who reigned in their respective events are June Pearl Dagano (girls’ 100m freestyle), John Michael Catamco (boys’ 50m butterfly) and Maglia Jaye Dignadice (girls 50m butterfly), Rissa Sagahun (girls' 200m breaststroke), Philippines Team A (girls' 4x100 400m freestyle), Harry Lim (boys' 50m butterfly), Edgar Naraga (boys' 50m backstroke), and Quendy Fernandez (girls' 50m backstroke).

Meanwhile, Berdard Ganancial heaved 33.95 meters to clinch the gold in the men’s discus while his compatriots Jhonmark Sedoripa (33.14m) and Lunasco Alabado (32.58m) secured the silver and bronze.

In women's shot put, the Filipinos came up short for the top podium finish with PH Team D’s  Aliia Tricia Badajos (9.53m) and team A’s Jerlyn Grace Crismundo (9.25m) settling for second and third place as Malaysia’s Daniella Jimil (10.25m) snagged the gold.