| Bacolod City, Philippines | Friday, February 6, 2009 |
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Nopsscea swimmer Balinas
marks 18th birthday with four
BY NIDA BUENAFE
SAN JOSE, Antique – La Salle sophomore Nursing student and ace swimmer, Dominique Balinas, of the NOPSSCEA team turned 18 yesterday and celebrated her debut by picking up four gold medals from women’s 100m and 50m fly, and 200m and 400m individual medley in the swimming competition of the 2009 Western Visayas PRISAA at the Binirayan Sports Complex swimming pool here. The gold medals, Balinas said, were her gifts to herself and to the team, as NOPSSCEA captured eight golds, six silvers, and nine bronzes in the first day of swimming events. Mengie Makilan’s powerful finish in 400m free gave NOPSSCEA its fifth gold in women’s event yesterday while Rey Mark Cornel copped two gold medals in men’s 200m and 50m back and Frank Arnel Hembra topped the men’s 50m fly. Contented with what the team achieved despite their short preparation, Balinas said she felt a sense of fulfillment as she marked her 18th birthday surrounded by her teammates who cheered her on at the sideline and sang the birthday song to her as she emerged from the pool after dominating the women’s 400m medley. Although she considers an “early retirement” from swimming after this year’s PRISAA competition, as she needs to prioritize her studies, Balinas said the sports paved the way for so many blessings in her life. Meanwhile, the NOPSSCEA table tennis women’s team is poised to claim the championship today after defeating Iloilo yesterday while the football squad, represented by West Negros University, will face perennial rival Iloilo City at 3:30 p.m., for another titular showdown. In basketball, the Mustangs-led NOPSSCEA dumped Capiz, 88-75, in yesterday’s first game and toyed with Antique, 132-76, in the afternoon to share an unbeaten record with Iloilo. The two teams will clash today at 9:30 a.m. in a match hyped to be as the championship preview. In volleyball, NOPSSCEA men’s team, as expected, beat Antique in three straight sets while their women counterparts prevailed over Aklan and Capiz in similar fashion.*NAB | |
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