SWIMMING TOURNEY. Philippine Aquatics Inc. Secretary General and Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain (2nd from left) talks to swimming stakeholders during the national tryouts at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex last October in this undated photo. The PAI on Thursday (Dec. 28, 23) named members of the Philippine team to the Asian Age Group Swimming Championships slated next year. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) on Thursday named the 44 athletes – 22 boys and 22 girls – who will join the 11th Asian Age Group Swimming Championships from Feb. 26 to March 9 at the world-class New Clark City (NCC) Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.
The swimmers were selected based on the World Aquatics qualifying points during the national tryouts at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex last October.
Around 1,400 swimmers are expected to compete in the tournament which was originally scheduled this month. A country can field a maximum of 44 entries.
“In line with our formal request to the World Aquatics for the recognition of this championship as an official qualifying competition for the 2024 Paris Olympics, we anticipate a fierce and spirited competition among the 45 participating countries of Asia Aquatics,” PAI Secretary General and Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain said in a memorandum sent to all swimming stakeholders on Dec. 19.
Leading the country's campaign are 2023 Fukuoka World Championships veteran Xandi Chua of TopSwim Club and 2022 Vietnam SEA Games gold medalist Chloe Isleta of One Ilocos Sur will compete in the girls' 18 years old and above 200m Individual Medley and 50m freestyle after garnering 762 and 749 World Aquatics points, respectively.
Joining them are Thanya Dela Cruz of Ayala Harpoons (50m breaststroke,31.83), Erin Castrillo of Rising Atlantis (50m backstroke,30.80), Alyssa Ng of Waver Runners (50m breaststroke,33.97) and Quendy Fernandez of Palawan Swim Club (100m backstroke,1:05.49).
Fernandez is a member of the University of the Philippines swimming team. The UAAP Season 86 MVP and Rookie of the Year captured six gold medals in the Philippine National Games last week.
Participating in the men's 18 years old and above category are Joshua Gabriel Ang of Golden Sea Eagles (100m butterfly, 54.63), Jemmuel Booh De Leon of Aklan Swimming Club (50m butterfly, 25.00), Raymund Vera Paloma of Nautilus (400m freestyle, 4:07.61), Rian Marco Tirol (50m breaststroke, 29.49) and brothers Miguel (100m freestyle, 51.79) and Rafael Barreto (100m butterfly, 55.44) of Ayala Harpoons.
Entries in the boys 15-17 class are Albert Jose Amaro of San Beda (50m butterfly, 25.67), Evo Nicolai Enot of Ayala Harpoons (100m freestyle, 54.10), Peter Cyrus Dean of Killerwhale Elite (50m backstroke, 27.47), Paulo Miguel Labanon of Rasa Wavemaker (200m freestyle, 1:59.58), Aaron Gordoncillo of NOBD Swimmers (50m breaststroke, 30.53), Zayden Ramos of Behrouz Elite (50m freestyle, 24.76), Huge Antonio Parto of Behrouz Elite (100m butterfly, 58.55), and Jaime Uandorr Maniago of Waverunners (50m breaststroke, 31.15).
In the girls’ division are Heather White (50m freestyle, 26.47)) and Jasmine Mojdeh(200m butterfly, 2:18.50), Qatar-based Arabella Taguinota, (100m breastroke, 1:12.82), Trixie Ortiguerra of Tarlac Mako Shark (50m backstroke, 31.20), Cy Delos Santos of Marikina Poseidon (50 breaststroke, 33.95), Patricia Mae Cantor of Ilustre East Aquatics (100m butterfly, 1:04.84), FJ Catherine Cruz of Mabalacat City Race (50m backstroke, 26.19), and Kacie Gabrielle Tionko of Salabides Swim Sting (100m freestyle, 1:01.07).
In the boys 12-14 line-up are national junior record-holder Jamesray Ajido of QC Buccaneers (100m butterfly, 57.12), Rodevic Gonzalvo of Green Blasters(100m butterfly, 1:01.27), Aishel Evangelista of Beta Swim Club (400m freestyle, 4:26.00), Ashton Clyde Jose of Leviathan Swim (200m breaststroke, 2:34.90), Jet Daryl Berueda of Daxx Swim Club (100m freestyle, 57.75), Rio Coliyat of Aqua Sonics (200m breaststroke, 2:36.63), Elijah Ebayan of South Warriors Swim (50m butterfly, 27.81), Sebastian Marcelo of Barracuda (50m breaststroke, 32.69).
Those who qualified in the girls 12-14 category are Raina Coleman of Dax Swim (100m breaststroke, 1:16.90), Kyla Loise Bulaga of La Union BullShark (100m butterfly, 1:07.04), Nuche Veronica Ibit of Aklan Swim Team (50m freestyle, 28.63), Liv Abigail Florendo of Ilocos Sur Aqua (200m freestyle, 2:17.06), Paulene Obebe of Aqua Sprint (50m freestyle, 28.86), Krystal Ava David of Golden Sea Eagles (200m breaststroke, 2:50.48), Kaisha Blair Asturiano of Flying Lampasot (100m freestyle, 1:03.66) and Jemeina Pagaran of Otters Swimming (50m backstroke, 33.28).
The Asian Age Group Swimming Championships is the second international competition that will be staged in the New Clark City Swimming Complex after the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019. (PNA)
