Déjà vu: Tanker Frigillana completes golden sweep in PRISAA

MANILA, Philippines – Ferdinand Frigillana’s campaign in the PRISAA National Games ended the same way it did in 2008 after once again sweeping all of his events in the multi-event sports festival. Frigillana swept all of the seven events he competed in at the Metro Naga Sports Complex pool to emerge as the multi-medaled athlete in Naga City. He already won five gold medals before adding two more on Thursday. He first won the 400-meter freestyle then led National Capital Region’s men’s 4x100-meter medley relay team to a record-shattering win. Frigillana finished the 400m freestyle event in four minutes and 36.98 seconds then anchored Team NCR – composed of Teohdy Gavino, John Orlan Simora and Neale Banagale – to the 4x100m medley relay gold in 2:27.29, which is much better than last year's 4:18.09 mark. With his victories, Frigillana was able to duplicate his performance during the 2008 edition of the PRISAA Nationals held in Zamboanga. “I feel happy but humbled. Hopefully we can do it a third time," said the 21-year-old San Beda, who is eyeing a third stint when Tacloban, Leyte hosts next year’s edition. Also making head turns inside the pool was UST’s Josephine Pilapil, who became the best campaigner in the women's side after winning seven medals (six gold and a silver). NCR tankers continue to dominate the swim event with wins by McGyver Reyes (men’s 50m butterfly, 27.09); Edson Dinglasan (men’s 50m breaststroke, 32.01); John Bueta (men’s 200m IM, 2:22.79); and the 4x200m freestyle relay team of Banagale, Bueta, Jericho Escobar and Adrian Rees in the 4x200 freestyle relay (9:01.94). With their Thursday wins, Team NCR already collected a total of 82 medals – 51 gold, 21 silver and 10 bronze. Relay events are given the equivalent number of medals to each participant. Western Visayas was a far second with 11-7-17 while Calabarzon is third 2-25-8. NCR triumphs in the pool also put them ahead in the overall standings with a 51-26-21 tally. Western Visayas was at second spot with its 16-20-21 and Central Visayas third, 16-20-61. Equally impressive for NCR on Thursday was Benjamin Alejandrino who won two gold in athletics after topping the 3,000meter steeplechase (9:48.2) and as part of the 4x800-meter relay squad. With those gold medals, Alejandrino, who plays for UST in the UAAP, also swept his events. The taekwondo crown went to Western Visayas as they dominated the event with three gold, five silver and two bronze medals. Davao (Region 11) finished second with a 2-1-4 slate while Calabarzon (Region 4-A) placed third, 2-1-1. Western Visayas also made their presence felt in chess bagging the men’s and women’s crowns. Individual chess honors went to Region 7’s Kim Yap (Board 1), Region 6’s Michael Paragan (Board 2), and teammates Mark Mariano (Board 3) Richfield Rivera (Board 4). – GMANews.TV Region 9’s Ma. Fe Serrano sizzled on Board 1 on the women's side and Region 6’s Stella Mar Guadiano, Joyce Marie Mariano and Ma. Jennifer Nacion on Boards 2, 3 and 4, respectively. - GMANews.TV