BORACAY — Palarong Pambansa standout Anton Paulo Dominick Della secured an age-group silver in the men’s 10-kilometer race. It opened the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Championships Friday.

The event is presented by the Philippine Sports Commission. Della swam in ideal conditions at the 1.66-kilometer course off Boracay Newcoast, overlooking the Sibuyan Sea.

He clocked two hours and 20 seconds, placing second in the 18-19-year-old division. The 17-year-old pride of San Fernando, La Union, bagged four golds in the last Palarong Pambansa.

Held in Agusan del Sur, that meet showcased his rise. Here, he narrowly missed a podium finish in the Open division by a stroke, out of 31 entries.

Vietnam Sweeps Top Open Division Honors

He trailed Vietnamese bronze medalist Van Dung Cao (2:00.15) by just five seconds. The event was won by compatriot Ngoc Vin Dho (1:58.30).

Mochammad Taufik took bronze in 2:00.06. Della shared the spotlight with Dianna Celyn Cruz, who bucked painful hips to bag bronze.

Cruz clocked 2:48.17 to take bronze in the 20-year-old-and-above women’s class. She finished 16th overall in the meet, organized by Philippine Aquatics Inc.

The meet was sanctioned by the Southeast Asian Swimming Federation. Cruz wound up 16th overall among 20 entries in the women’s open division.

Vietnam finished 1-2 there, led by Kha Ni Nguyen (2:18.29.86) and Huynh Tu Uyen Le (2:19.26.63). The meet was also backed by the Aklan and Malay provincial and municipal governments.

Swimmers Reflect on Tactics and Grit

“I swam a tactical race by trying to keep myself in the lead pack,” said Della.

“The weather was good from the first to fourth rounds, while from the fifth and sixth rounds it was a bit wavy or choppy.”

“You need to last long in this kind of race, so I drafted behind the lead swimmers so it didn’t get heavy so much before making my move in the last 500 meters,” he added.

“It is really great to have competed because the 10K race is like the ultra marathon of swimming,” said a delighted Della. “This medal inspires me to believe I can accomplish something here.”

“I won’t hesitate doing it all over again,” he said.

“I wasn’t feeling well and wanted to give up after the third round because my hips were hurting,” said Cruz.

She disclosed she was down with flu and had not practiced five days before the meet.

“I had a left hip strain while working out here last June. I thought it would be okay now, but then both hips began to hurt.”

“I just thank God I was able to endure it. He gave me strength,” said the swimmer, a born-again Christian.

Della returns to action early Saturday for the mixed relay, joined by Alex Tiu, Graziella Sophia Ato and Nuche Veronica Ibit. Each swimmer will negotiate a 1,500-meter course.

A male swimmer plunges in first, followed back-to-back by two female swimmers. The other male bet caps the anchor leg.