Arafura Games, May 11, 2009

Davao swimmers splash for 4 medals,
GenSan girl bags bronze in Arafura
By Neil Bravo

DARWIN, N.T. AUSTRALIA—Davao swimmers Haroon Cali and Allan Jovero bagged three medals in the 2009 Arafura Games here just as swiftly as they slept.

The two tankers from Davao City spent a few minutes of naps in between the giddy four-hour flight from Singapore, had a quick breakfast of toast and juice on arrival before being whisked quickly to the pool for competition.

Not an easy thing to do considering these boys are not used to long flights before competitions.

At the end of the day, Cali barely missed the gold by an arm and Jovero had three bronze medals draping on his neck. Not bad for a team decimated by last minute pullouts, visa and funding delays.

The 21-year old Cali finished with a silver medal in the 17 and over 50-m backstroke with a 30.15 seconds clocking while Jovero checked in at third for a bronze in 31.07. Scott Van Burck of Queensland frustrated the Davao tankers with an amazing swim in the finals in 29.12. Cali had earlier topped the morning heats with Van Burck in second position.

Earlier, Van Burck also blew away Jovero in the boys 17 and over 100-m butterfly with a fast time of 59.32 while Northern Territory’s Josh Barnes came in a distant second with 1:04.85. Jovero came in with 1:05.29 for bronze.

Jean Baptiste L’Huillier of Caledonia frustrated Van Burck in the boys 17 and over 50-m free style with a swim of 24.41 seconds while Van Burck settled for silver with 24.47 and Jovero booked another bronze with 26.14.

The triple bronze feat of Jovero came after he endured some visa glitch in Manila and had to stay behind for half a day to await his visa. He caught up with the delegation in Singapore Friday afternoon.

“Mabuti na lang at nanalo pa ng medal si Allan. I was so worried dahil di nga nakatulog ang mga bata,” said Allan’s mother Leah, who along with co-parents Rosalinda Tudio and Judy Ann Cantil, personally attended to their sons and daughters and monitored the clockings of the competition.

General Santos City’s Tiara Bebony Tudio also booked herself a bronze medal in the tough girls 13-14 50-m breaststroke finishing third with a 37.74 clocking. Montana Colreavy of West Australia won the gold in 36.27 while Lily Burrow of Northern Territory was second in 36.93.

Councilor Peter Lavina immediately sent his message of congratulations to the medallists. “Despite the odds, we were able to make it. We’re proud of them,” Lavina said. Lavina, who also heads the Davao City Sports Council, and fellow councilor Rachel Zozobrado, arrived with the delegation here.

The Davao delegation is backed up by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Mayor Sara Duterte through the City Sports Development Office headed by chief of staff Bong Go and officer-in-charge Moses Billacura. (NJB)