PUERTO PRINCESA CITY: The Philippines bagged four gold medals right on the first day of the medal rounds in the 11th BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area) Friendship Games in this Palawan capital Monday. Swimmers Philip Adrian Sahagun (boys’ 200m Individual Medley), June Pearl Dagano (girls’ 100m freestyle), and Lora Micah Amoguis (girls’ 200m Individual Medley), along with athletics’ Bernard Ganancial (discus throw), put the Philippines on the medal table during the morning competitions, all held at Ramon V. Mitra Jr. Sports Complex.

According to Philippines News Agency, Sahagun, 21, clocked 2 minutes and 13.52 seconds to outpace Indonesia’s Hidayatullah Aril (2:13.83) and fellow Filipino Rodolfo Paolo Apilado III (2:20.82). Despite his victory, Sahagun expressed that he was not overly optimistic about winning, as he was coming off a demanding collegiate season. “I didn’t expect to win, kasi (because) two weeks ago kakagaling ko lang ng (I came from the) UAAP an
d I didn’t have [enough] time to prepare for this kasi gusto ko rin po makapag-hinga (because I wanted to rest),” said Sahagun, who represents De La Salle University, in an interview. He noted that he did not train for a week following the UAAP season.

La Salle had placed second behind their archrival, Ateneo de Manila, in the overall standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 men’s swimming competition. “Pero ang (But my) mindset is swim for the Philippines,” Sahagun explained. “No’ng (In the) last lap, medyo nakaramdan po ako ng sakit ng katawan ko pero nakita ko po ‘yung kalaban ko na humahabol kaya i-push ko na… nandun na po ako sa una kaya sabi ko, ‘di ko na po ibibigay ‘tong (I felt body pain but I was aware that my foes were closing in so I gave it my all for the) gold.”