MANILA, Philippines — Bannered by Mojdeh siblings Madi, Mikhael Jasper and Micaela Jasmine, the Behrouz Elite Swimming Team (BEST) made huge splash in the opening day of the 2024 National Age Group Championships, winning 12 gold, nine silver and two bronze medals at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Malate, Manila.

Madi, an Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Paranaque student, shone the brightest with four golds and one silver in Class A boys' 13-year division.

Madi earned his first gold by topping the 400m Individual Medley event with a time of five minutes and 12 seconds before ruling the 100m breastroke event in 1:16.49.

He also secured two more mints in 200m backstroke (2:34.11) and 100m butterfly (1:05.41) and a runner-up finish in 200m freestyle (2:20.10).

Not to be outdone was Mikhael Jasper — a Most Outstanding Swimmer awardee in Thailand swimming meet held last February — who earned four gold medals in Class A boys' 9-year category.

Mikhael Jasper ropped the 200m freestyle (2:45.76), 100m butterfly (1:34.70), 50m backstroke (39.94) and 100m breaststroke (1:51.00) of the event hosted by the Philippine Aquatics Inc.

On the other hand, World Junior Championships veteran ang Philippine national junior record holder Micaela Jasmine made her presence felt by claiming one gold and a couple of silvers in Class A girls' 17-over event.

Micaela Jasmine dominated the 100m breaststroke in 1:16.62 then placed second in 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke.

The 18-year old Filipino-Iranian beauty is coming off a two-bronze medal finish in the 13th Asean Schools Games held in Da Nang, Vietnam recently.

Kristian Yugo Cabana added two gold medals (200m backstroke and 100m butterfly) and one bronze (200m freestyle) in Class A boys' 14-year) while Annika Quinto chipped in one gold (200m backstroke Class B), one silver (200m freestyle Class B) and one bronze (100m butterfly Class A) in girls' 13-year event.

The other medalists are Elisa De Kam with three silvers (200m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 200m freestyle) in girls' 13-year; Clara Maligat with one silver (100m butterfly) in girls' 13-year; and Gabriel Dimandal with one silver (100m breaststroke) in boys' 15-year.

The BEST coaching staff is composed of head coach Jeremiah Paez, assistant coach Emman Lafuente, consultant Sherwin Santiago and strength and conditioning coach Jerricson Llanos.

"The Philippine Aquatics National Age Group Championships that served as a valuable pre-season tune-up for Palarong Pambansa and the National Tryouts in August," said BEST team manager Joan Mojdeh.

"We are happy to see again these swimmers come together to compete in Rizal Memorial Pool. The swimmers impressed us with personal bests and podium finishes. I would like to thank and Congratulate all participants, coaches, and PAI," she added. TMT