NEW national pool member Allen Santiago and Bernasconi Echauz opened the year 2012 with a bang as they ruled yesterday's Wetshop Green Aquathlon held at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

Seeing action is only his second swim-run event, the 16-year old Santiago banked on his superb running skills to atone for his disappointing  performance in the pool and claim the top spot in the men's 16-19 age class.

"Tatlo lamang kami naglaban pero naipit ako sa gitna at hindi nakaalis kaya  naiwanan ako ng halos 25 seconds. Pero binawi ko ito sa run," said Santiago who  negotiated the 800m swim and 3k run event in 24 minutes and 31 seconds.

Edward Vine Macalalad, who submitted the fastest time in the swim event with 12:54 as against the 13:19 of Santiago, fell by 45 seconds in the run event and settled for second place with a 24:51 time.

In third place was Kurt Izak Cabanilla with 25:15.

Echauz, competing in the aquathlon for the first time, had no problem dealing against rivals Mari Glycel So and Maria Margarit De Los Reyes as the 15-year old triathlete led from start to finish for a fast 14:10 performance.

This is second time Wetshop held the event in cooperation with the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) as the tournament drew a huge field of 145 participants, with half of the young triathletes  seeing action in the 7-8 to 13-15 age groups.