BACOLOD. – Learning discipline and time management are two of the things that Navy cadet Marvic Iguidez of the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University likes about the Reserve Officers Training Corps program.
Iguidez put these to good use on Monday, emerging from the Victorias City Aquatic Center pool in nearby Victorias City Negros Occidental with three swimming gold medals in the first full day of action in the 2nd Philippine ROTC Games here.
Iguidez ruled the boys 100-meter freestyle (1:04.58), 50-meter butterfly (31.20) and 50-meter backstroke (32.30) in the meet backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the office of Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino.
Army cadet Kervin Dinzon captured the gold in the boys 200-meter individual medley with a time of three minute and 4.71 seconds while University of Antique’s Renz Espanueva was a far second in 4:02.09.
Fellow Army bet Angela Maree Tabia topped the distaff side to complete an ISAT sweep of the event, winning by a mile over runner-up Hyacinth Mondejar (5:24.73) in the competition supported by the Department of National Defense and Commission on Higher Education.
“Sobrang saya kasi lahat ng hard work ko nagbunga,” said Iguidez, who enrolled in the ROTC program to further boost his athletics career after bringing home two swimming relay golds in the 2023 State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association National Games held at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac a year ago.
“Natuto rin ako ng discipline and time management dahil sa ROTC,” added the athlete, who will go for a sweep of all of his events when he competes in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke events before going returning to Iloilo for his final exams.
Competing barely minutes in-between his first two events, Iguidez was given a lifeline after organizers allowed a 30-minute rest before resuming the competition for his third and final event in the meet also backed by the Bacolod City government led by Mayor Albee Benitez
“Mabuti na lang nanalo si Marvic sa amin. We tried to field 10 swimmers but only he managed to make the CHED qualifying standards,” ISAT swimming coach Mark Catalan said of his prized ward.
Dinzon also won the men’s 100-meter freestyle (1:17.20) but failed to match Iguidez’s three mints, settling for the silver in the boys 50-meter butterfly (33.56) behind Jehtro Yaun (29.44).
In a rare occurrence in any meet, Tabia’s twin sister, Mary Angelee, capped swimming action by ruling the girls 200-meter backstroke (3:58.10).
Track and field action gets under way Tuesday with five final evens at the Panaad Park and Sports Complex track oval located on the outskirts of the Negros Occidental provincial capital.
On tap are the finals in the men’s and women’s 100-meter dash, 1,500-meter, 4×400-meter relays and long jump.
Taekwondo also unwraps Tuesday at the Robinsons Mall Activity Center.
