TOP BET. Jamesray Michael Ajido will lead the Philippine campaign in the 45th Southeast Asia (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships slated from Aug. 24-26, 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ajido won two gold medals last year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo grabbed from Jamesray Michael Ajido’s Facebook page)
MANILA – Double-gold medalist Jamesray Michael Ajido will lead the country's campaign in the 45th Southeast Asia (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships slated from Aug. 24-26, 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Philippine delegation, composed of 19 swimmers, four divers, six coaches and three officials, is scheduled to leave this Tuesday.
Ajido will compete in the boys 14-15 category.
Last year, he won the 13-and-under 50m butterfly and 100m backstroke events at the National Aquatic Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Also joining the Jakarta trip are Peter Cyrus Dean, Ivo Nikolai Enot, Joshua Ramos, Lance Rafael Cruz, Joshua Pak, Jalil Sephraim Taguinod and Jennuel Booh (boys 16-18); Shairinne Floriano, Mishka Sy, Jie Angela Mikaela Talosig, Bea Mabalay, Amina Isabelle Bungubung and Ava Bautista (girls 16-18); Clark Kent Apuada (boys 14-15); Patricia Mae Santor, FJ Catherine Cruz and Arabella Nadeen Taguinota (girls 14-15); and Aishel Evangelista (boys 13 and under).
The national contingent includes divers Xian Igi Joel, Joseph Reynado, Michael Jay Tresinio and Mark Dave Tresinio; coaches Ramil Ilustre, Cyrus Alcantara, Manuel De Leon, Mark Pido and Wilfredo Cruz (swimming), and Niño Carog (diving); and team managers Anthony Reyes (swimming) and Marie Antoinette Dimanche (diving).
"We are sending a lean team but with a high chance of winning medals for our country. This is the first SEA Age Group team under the new administration of Philippine Aquatics. On behalf of our President Michael Vargas, we are proud of our team, and we are very happy that swimming is very active nationwide given the diversity of hometowns of our team," Batangas First District Rep. Eric Buhain, who was elected Philippine Aquatics secretary general, said in a statement released to the media on Monday.
Philippine Aquatics Executive Director Chito Rivera, who was designated head of delegation, added: "It's a lean but quality team. It's a smaller team compared to last year, but all the swimmers are competitive, having passed the qualifying time standard set during the national tryouts. We are hoping for the best, expectations are high for the new leadership, so please pray for the whole team." (PNA)
