Miguel Barreto tops 200m free in PSI Nationals

Miguel Barreto

National team stalwart Miguel Barreto topped a thrilling 200-meter freestyle race highlighting Day 2 of the 2021 Philippine Swimming, Inc. National Selection bubble at the New Clark City Aquatic Center on Saturday.

With a time of 1:56.74, Barreto beat out teammate Sacho Ilustre for the win. Ilustre finished third with a time of 1:59.29, as Marco Daos sneaked past him at the touch with a 1:59.10.

He shared afterwards, "Yung kahapon, expected ko malapit sa best time. Okay naman yung feeling. Pero nothing to expect naman kasi wala namang training. So ngayon, enjoy lang, have fun."

The Ayala Harpoons Swim Club standout unfortunately missed out on a double in the 400-meter individual medley as a result of a disqualification.

Instead, it was Ted Laminta who claimed his second win in the meet with a time of 4:49.00, beating out Joshua del Rio's 5:01.04.

Fellow Harpoon Thanya Dela Cruz continued to impress, securing a third win in the competition with a near-national record at the 100-meter breaststroke.

The Marikina resident was clocked at 1:11.28, just .36 seconds off Desirae Mangaoang's record time of 1:10.92.

After being the lone competitor in the 200-meter individual medley, Xiandi Chua got tested in the 200-meter freestyle, beating UAAP Season 82 MVP Chloe Daos, 2:09.17 to 2:11.66.

Fellow UAAP Season 82 MVP Camille Buico did win her event, clocking a 28.69 second time to claim the 50-meter butterfly for Rising Atlantis SC.

In the other events, BEST Main's Jordan Lobos topped the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:04.66, beating out Sam Alcos and Rian Marco Tirol, who finished second and third with respective times of 1:05.84 and 1:05.96.

Lobos' teammate Michaela Mojdeh claimed the 400-meter individual medley title fending off Gianna Garcia, 5:23.63 to 5:38.73. The fifteen-year-old had a crack at another race, but fell short against Hannah Sanchez in the women's 1500-meter freestyle, 18:58.71 against the latter's 18:55.97.

Garcia did top the women's 200-meter backstroke with 2:33.96, fending off Keneily Trinidad's 2:45.71.

QC Buccaneers SC's Seb Wong beat out Ilustre in the 50-meter butterfly with a time of 25.67 seconds. Ilustre nipped Marcus De Kam for second, 26.40 to 26.50. 

Completing things off for second day action in the meet, which is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, and the Clark Development Corporation, is John Niel Paderes and his 2:14.94 time to secure the men's 200-meter backstroke.

Final day of pool action is slated on Sunday.