PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – The Davao Region delegation powered Team Philippines to a tournament-best 12 gold medals after two days of competition in the 11th BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area) Friendship Games here Tuesday.

The delegation known as Team Philippines-A also has 17 silver and 18 bronze medals.

Malaysia-B was running second at 8-8-4, followed by Team PH-E (Puerto Princesa) at 7-3-2.

Quendy Fernandez, 19, starred for the host city with three more swimming gold medals -- girls’ 100m backstroke and girls’ 200m medley and freestyle relays.

She already won the girls’ 50m backstroke and got silver in the 400m freestyle on Monday.

The Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines last year said it is always extra satisfying when she competes in her hometown.

“Dito po ako natuto lumangoy from Kinder pa lang. Dito na ko nag-swim, lalo na nandito pa ako sa (I learned to swim here, since i was in Kinder, and now I’m in an) international competition,” the sophomore student of the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City said.

She said seeing familiar faces gave her “much joy and energy.”

De La Salle University’s Philip Sahagun, also from Davao, copped his third gold in the boys’ 100m backstroke.

Adding to Team PH-A’s collection were women’s long jump winner Desiree Anne Alaba; women’s 800m duo Mary Jane Pagayon and Kate Duffy Gel Mc Dowell who bagged gold and silver, respectively; and Lia Margarett Amoguis and Paolo Miguel Labanon (girls’ and boys’ 200m butterfly).

Team PH-B (General Santos City/Sarangani province) got two golds from swimmer Marilen Sofia Carino (girls’ 50m breaststroke) and the women’s badminton duo of Rehina Bayudang and Krystn Valdez.

All winners will be known Wednesday, including in archery, esports, karatedo, pencak silat and sepak takraw. (PNA)