Palarong Pambansa star Albert Jose Amaro II of San Beda University made his presence felt early as he splashed his way to three gold medals at the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 100 swimming competition at the Rizal Memorial Aquatics Center in Manila.

Amaro, who harvested a record seven mints in the Palaro in Cebu City last July, didn’t waste time in showing what he’s got as he cornered gold medals in the boys’ 200-meter individual medley, 100m freestyle and the 200m medley relay with Joart Calderon, Shiblon Montera and Nimrod Montera to power the Junior Red Tankers to the early lead.

It was three of the four golden swims posted by San Beda in the juniors’ side with the other one coming from Nimrod Montera in the 1500m freestyle.

The only boys’ event gold that slipped away from San Beda was snatched by Jose Rizal University’s Luke Amber Matthew Arano, who topped the 50m backstroke.

Almaro’s arrival could be the boost in the arm San Beda has long waited for as it tries to reclaim the crown it last won in 2017.

San Beda was also dominant in the women’s side where it scooped up four of the five gold in the division while its men’s team was tied for first with College of Saint Benilde with two mints apiece.