By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense swimmer Ariel Joseph Alegarbes captured gold and silver medals in the 12th ASEAN Para Games at the Morodok Techo National Stadium’s Aquatics Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Monday, June 5.

The Negros Occidental’s Victorias City-native Alegarbes nabbed the gold medal in the men’s 50-meter butterfly S14 event after tallying 26.69 seconds to defeat Malaysians Bryan Lau Sze Kai (27.060) and Muhammad Imaan Aiman (27.530).

The 19-year-old Alegarbes, who served as Team Philippines’ flag-bearer during the opening ceremony of the competition, settled for a silver medal finish in the men’s 100-m breaststroke event.

Alegarbes finished the event in one minute and 13.59 seconds for the silver medal behind Malaysian Mohd Adib Igbal Abdullah, who captured the gold medal in one minute and 9.54 seconds.

Last year in Semarang, Indonesia, the Negrense Para swimmer won gold medals in both the men’s 50-m butterfly S14 event and men’s 100-m breaststroke in record the breaking fashions.

Gary Bejino came up with a record-breaking performance in the men’s 200-m freestyle S6 event as he clocked 2:38.55 to erase the old mark of 2:45.99 set by Myanmar’s Aung Myint Myat last year.

The Albay province’s Tabaco-native Bejino, who delivered the country’s first gold medal after claiming victory in the 400-m freestyle last Sunday, June 4, has four more events — three individual and one relay (4×100 medley).

“It’s my first time to compete in the 200-m freestyle event and I’m happy that I won the gold,” Bejino said.

“I think that I have a good chance. I will do my best,” he added.

In athletics, Cendy Asusano registered 13.74-m in the women’s javelin throw F54 event to collect her second gold medal. Her compatriot, Marites Burce, got the silver medal in 11.96-m.

The other silver medalists in athletics were King James Reyes (men’s 1,500-m T46), Jolan Camacho (men’s long jump) and Jesebel Arevalo (women’s javelin throw F55)./ASC, WDJ