MANILA, Philippines — Gian Santos swept all his five events in the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) Long Course National Trials at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Malate, Manila.

Santos dominated the boys 16-18, topping the 100m freestyle in 50.70 — almost three seconds off the 53.01 QTS. The incoming freshman at Columbian University in New York also broke QTS in the 400m freestyle in 4:01.26, 200m IM in 2:05.99, 200m freestyle in 1:51.39, and 200m breast in 2:18.30.

Homegrown star Jamesray Ajido became the winningest swimmer collecting seven gold medals on top of two QTS performances after closing out his campaign with victory in the boys 14-15 100m free (54.32). The Asian Age Group gold medal winner was victorious in the 50m backstroke (28,57), 200m freestyle (2:02.35), and 100m butterfly (56.25) breaking the QTS (57.47), matching the QTS of 24.64 in the 50m free, 100m backstroke (1:01.01) and 200m Individual Medley (2:12.57).

Unheralded local bets Billie Blu Mondonedo, Maxene Hayley Uy, Sophie Rose Garra, and Liv Abigail Florendo also stole the thunder from their much illustrious homegrown and Filipino-foreign breed competitors on Sunday.

The 17-year-old, Mondonedo fortified her inclusion for the Philippine Team with an astonishing performance in the girls 16-18 100meter freestyle clocking 56.64 — shuttering the SEA Age Qualifying Time Standard (QTS) of 58.41.

Mondonedo completed her mastery in the freestyle with victories in the 50meter (26.48) and 200m (2:08.34).

Also shone brightest among the local hopefuls are Uy, Garra, and Florendo who make it to the training pool with their respectable showing in their respective classes after faltering in the first three days of competition.

The 15-year-old Uy topped the girls' 14-15 50m backstroke clocking 31.15 seconds; Garra claimed her place in the team by breaking the QTS of 1:09.52 in the girls-11-13 100m back with a time of 1:08.98; and Florendo came out big in the girls 11-13 200-m fly shuttering the QTS (1:09.52) with a time of 1:08.98.

"We're happy to see some unfamiliar names breaking the standard time in the Trials. This only proves that PAI swimming club members are seriously adopting the training program we crafted and distributed throughout our regional areas. We will review the results, para makita rin natin na puwedeng maisama yung ibang gold medalist na walang QTS but very potential," said PAI Secretary-General Eric Buhain. TMT