By Edwin Rollon
The Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) is proud to name the first batch of fresh talents who dominated in the recent qualifying events and will be tested for their true worth as Philippine Teams to participate in the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, the 46th Southeast Asia Age Group Championships and 11th Asian Open Water Swimming Championships slated this year.
"Congratulations, good luck and break a leg - in that order," said Rep. Eric Buhain of the 1st District of Batangas and PAI secretary general. "So, they made it past the qualifying, which is good for them. I hope they sustain their momentum. But I should warn them, that the road to greatness has just started for them."
Buhain, an Olympic swimmer and PH sports Hall of Famer joins the rest of the present PAI leadership in producing a well-trained and truly competitive pool in the next Olympics.
"In the next Olympics, our swimmers will join as medal potentials and not just as token participants," said Buhain.
PAI is looking at its new training pool as the first batch of "rough diamonds up for polishing" via a no-nonsense training program, more rigorous than what these rookies underwent to meet the Qualifying Standard Time (QTS) and World Aquatics (WA) points set during the National Trials last month at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool in Malate, Manila.
Homegrown star and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist (2022) Chloe Isleta, who topped the list with 770 WA points and SEAG record holder (2023) Xiandi Chua (723) will lead the women’s team off to the World Cup Series (short course) along with Fil-American Cristina Miranda Renner (717) and World Junior Championship semifinalist Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh (690), while Joshua Gabriel Ang (749) and Miguel Barreto (743) will banner the men’s team in the Cup Series which comprises competition on Oct. 18-20 (Series 1) in Shanghai, China; (Series 2) on Oct. 24-26 in Incheon, South Korea; (Series 3 on Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in Singapore and the Cup Championships on Dec. 10-15 in Budapest, Hungary.
Also included in the men’s squad are Arizona State University mainstay Fil-Am Kyle Gerard Valdez (715), Rian Marco Tirol ((747), Metin Junior Mahmutoglu (726), Rafael Barreto (723), Jerard Dominic Jacinto (733), Nathan Jao (722), Lucio Cuyong II, (664), Raymund Paloma (681), Albert Jose Amaro II (682), and Fil-Canadian Robin Christopher Domingo (665).
Coach Dax Halili Swim Club protegee Tarlac-based Fil-Am Riannah Chantelle Coleman and US-based Billie Blu Mondonedo, both claiming three QTA, head the team bound for the SEA Age Championships (long course) slated on Dec. 6-8 in Bangkok, Thailand. Mojdeh, Shania Joy Baraquiel, Ava Samantha Bautista, Liv Abigail Florendo, Sophia Rose Garra, and Bacolod-based Maxene Hayley Uy are joining them in the girls' team.
Incoming freshman at the Columbian University in New York Fil-American Gian Santos, hitting five QTS during the Trials, will be joining forces with Asian Age Group titlist Jamesray Mishael Ajido in the boys’ team as the Nationals will try to break even to duplicate the two gold medals won in last year’s edition in Malaysia.
Other members of the boys’ team are Albert Jose Amaro, Ryian Zach Denzel Belen, Jaydison Dacuycuy, Fil-German Alexander George Eichler, Fil-Mongolian Enkhmend Enkhmend, Ivo Nikolai Enot, Peter Dean and Reiniel Mikos Trinidad.
PAI also announced the composition of the National Team that will participate in the Open Swimming tilt slated for November 8-10 in Hong Kong. The lists included Ilocos Sur pride Graziella Sophia Ato, Athea Margarette Lagunay, Athena Chang, and Hannah Sanchez. At the same time, Davao native Paulo Labanon, Rafael Cruz, Roy Angelo Rodriguez, and Eirron Vibar comprised the men’s team.
Buhain said that PAI will shoulder all expenses in the participation including uniforms, air fares, and allowances.
"I promise these rookies, the PAI will take good care of you. However, they must promise back to train harder and deliver as we continue our dreams of Olympic medals."
