PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Under the scorching sun, Team Philippines’ Quendy Fernandez continued to shine in front of her hometown fans, securing her fourth gold medal in the swimming event to become the most decorated athlete so far in the 11th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Fernandez, 19, dominated the girls’ 100m backstroke, clocking in at 1 minute and 7.21 seconds to win the event. She outpaced silver medalist Lora Micah Amoguis of Team A (1:10.53) and Jann Maureen Doton of Team B (1:18.42).

“It’s a fun experience kasi dito po ako nagco-compete kung saan ako lumaki, and dito rin po ako natuto lumangoy from kinder palang dito nako nagsu-swim, lalo na nandito pa ako sa international competition,” said Fernandez, a second-year student at UP Diliman.

“Sobrang malaking boost po sa akin na makita ko po yung mga familiar faces. It just really brings so much joy and energy. Hopefully, madagdagan ko pa po yung mga medals ko,” added the UAAP Season 86 Individual Sports Athlete of the Year.

Fernandez, a multi-medalist at the PNG, also topped the 4×50 girls’ 200m medley and freestyle relays, while earning her first gold in the 50m backstroke and silver in the 4×100 400m freestyle on Monday, Dec. 2.

Meanwhile, Team A’s Philip Sahagun bagged his third gold in the boys’ 100m backstroke, clocking in at 1:00.82. He looks forward to adding more medals in the 200m backstroke and 4×100 medley events.

In archery, Utada Lorica and Craig Gimongala earned silver in the mixed compound division, losing to Indonesia’s Regina Tania and Rasya Muhammad, 153-139.

In recurve, Philippines B (0) and E (4) took silver and bronze, respectively, while Malaysia B (6) won the gold.

In athletics, Milchay Moreno secured the women’s 400m gold with a time of 1:00.41, beating Malaysia B’s Shakira Natashya (1:02.44) and teammate Crislyn Grace Wenceslao (1:02.77).

The 17-year-old Moreno still has two events remaining as she prepares for the girls’ 4×1 and 4×4 400m relays.

Other winners included Indonesia’s Muhammad Ariel Hairuddin (men’s 100m), Malaysia B’s Rizkah Abdullah (women’s 100m), Idwine Idris (men’s 400m), Daniella Jimil (women’s discus), and PH A’s Jhonmark Sedoripa (men’s shot put).

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