THE Behrouz Elite Swimming Team (BEST) tankers, led by Behrouz Mohammad Mojdeh and Yugo Cabana, delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Palarong Pambansa.
Mojdeh captured one gold and one bronze medal in the secondary boys division, helping the National Capital Region (NCR) secure its 19th consecutive overall championship title.
He was part of the NCR quartet that clinched gold in the boys’ 4x100m medley relay, while also earning bronze in the boys’ 100m butterfly.
Despite his achievements, Mojdeh admitted he was not fully satisfied with his performance, particularly in his individual events.
“Going into my first individual event, I felt a bit nervous. I ended up quite disappointed with my time. I felt like I had a late start off the blocks, and my streamline felt too slow,” said Mojdeh.
He acknowledged that he still has more to offer, especially after undergoing intense preparation leading up to the Palaro.
“While I am incredibly happy and grateful to have won my very first Palaro medal, I am honestly not satisfied with my performance in that event. I felt I could have done better if I was not overthinking too much,” he added.
Determined to bounce back, Mojdeh poured everything into the relay event, where he delivered a personal best performance.
“Immediately after that, I swam the relay and clocked a new personal best time in my 100-meter butterfly. This time around, my streamline kicked in better, and I felt much more loose and fluid in the water, unlike the tension I experienced during the 200-meter fly,” he said.
Mojdeh is now setting his sights on redemption next year, with Quezon City set to host the next edition of the multi-sport event.
“This experience makes me want to head straight back to training immediately so I can focus even more on my technique. My goal is to qualify for more events at Palaro next year,” he added.
He understands the challenge of competing in NCR, widely regarded as one of the toughest regions due to its deep pool of talent, but remains motivated to improve.
“Competing out of NCR is incredibly tough; the region is packed with exceptionally talented swimmers, and I am thankful just to have had the chance to make the roster. But I am definitely not done yet. Next year, I aim to qualify for more events and possibly even break a record in my remaining playing years,” said Mojdeh.
He also expressed gratitude to his coaches and family for their unwavering support.
Meanwhile, Cabana, representing the Calabarzon Region, also impressed after hauling one gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. TMT
