UNBELIEVABLE.

Chloe Isleta added two more gold medals in the centerpiece sport of swimming and almost singlehandedly carried the Philippines in the 20th ASEAN University Games at the Ban Yang Noi Campus in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

Isleta, who also made the country proud by winning the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May, bagged the gold medals in the women’s 50m backstroke with a time of 29.57 and 200m individual medley with a time of 2:18. 95 to emerge as the winningest swimmer in the prestigious, five-nation competition organized by the ASEAN University Sports Council.

The 24-old mainstay of De La Salle University swimming team under coach Evan Grabador won over the Indonesian duo of Angel Gabrielle Yus (29.83) and Agung Istri Ratih Atmaja (30.19) in the 50m backstroke.

Isleta returned to the pool to dominate the women’s 200m individual medley, clocking 2:18.95 against 2:20.78 of Pawapotako Phiangkhwan of Thailand and 2:23.03 of Azzahra Permatahani of Indonesia.

That brought Isleta’s total gold medal haul to four in the five-day swimming competitions to the delight of the small Filipino delegation supported by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP).

Isleta also captured the gold medals in the women’s 100m and 200m backstroke events — both in record times.

The United States-trained Isleta clocked 1:02.70 — a new AUG record — in ruling the 100m backstroke and beating Yamsuan Fonpray of Thailand (1;05.70) and Azzalira Permstshsni of Indonesia (1:06.31).

Isleta, who rose to prominence by winning the gold medal in thePuerto Rico International Open last year, followed it up with a victory in the 200m.

She established an AUG record time of 2:17.46 in beating Fonpray’s 2:19.27 and Permatahani’s 2:33.01.

With Isleta’s four gold medals, the Philippines also overtook host Thailand in the medal standings in the swimming competitions.

Thailand has 3-1-2 gold-silver-bronze medal haul, followed by Indonesia wih 2-5-6, Malaysia with 1-2-1 and Singapore with 1-2-0.

“Given the condition of our swimming team here, especially with the use of pools for warm-ups, this is really unbelievable,” said Isleta’s mother, Cecille Doromal- Waller, in her Facebook post.

“Kudos to our swimmers and coaches, especially coach Evan Grabador,” she added.

“Maraming salamat din po sa FESSAP sa pagbibigay ng opportunity for our student athletes to be able to participate in international swim competitions, such as the ASEAN University Games. Maraming salamat din sa La Salle, Sir Lawrence, Sir Allan Soria at Martin Jacob Pupos sa suporta.”

In table tennis, the Table Tennis Association for National Development- supported team finished fourth in both the men’s and women’s team competitions after losing to powerhouse Malaysia in their bronze medal games.

TATAND president Charlie Lim and former national player-turned-coach Julius Esposo said the Filipinos hope to do better in the singles events.

The Technological University of the Philippines men’s basketball team, headed by coach Arlene Rodriguez, and National University men’s volleyball team, have yet to see action.

AUG Swimming

Standings

G S B
Philippines 4 0 0
Thailand 3 1 2
Indonesia 2 5 6
Malaysia 1 2 1
Singapore 1 2 0

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya