In a rousing international debut, Palarong Pambansa standout Anton Paulo Dominick Della secured an age group silver in the men’s 10-kilometer race that kicked off the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission here yesterday.
Swimming in ideal conditions at the 1.66-kilometer course off the Boracay Newcoast overlooking the Sibuyan Sea, Della clocked two hours and 20 seconds in placing second in the 18-19-year-old division.
The pride of San Fernando, La Union, who bagged four golds in the most recent Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur, actually narrowly missed a podium finish in the Open division.
He was five seconds behind Vietnamese bronze medalist Van Dung Cao (2:00.15) in the event won by another Vietnamese Ngoc Vin Dho (1:58.30). Mochammad Taufik took bronze (2:00.06).