Suporta ng COPA sa ‘Stabilization Committee’ — Buhain

IDINEKLARANG tagumpay ang ikinasang National swimming tryouts ng Stabilization Committee na nilahukan ng 188 atleta at nakalikha ng isang national record gayondin sa 39 swimmers na nakapasa sa itinakdang Qualifying Time A at B.

“It’s a success. We owe it a lot to all the swimmers who brave the challenges, to the coaches and swimming clubs, associations particularly those from the provinces who travel from as far as Mindanao just to be here to support the Stabilization Committee in our effort to unite the community and select the most deserving swimmers for the Philippine Team,” pahayag ni Stabilization Committee member Bones Floro.

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa nakalipas na 20 taon, isinagawa ang swimming tryouts na inclusive at libre para sa lahat ng mga manlalangoy na Filipino at kabilang sa tumugon ang Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA) at ang Swim League Philippines (SLP).

Kabuuang 100 atleta mula sa Maynila, Luzon at mga lalawigan sa Visayas at Mindanao na miyembro ng mga swimming clubs na affiliated sa COPA ang sumabak sa qualifying meet, sa pangunguna ni Xiandi Chua ng Top Swim Club na humakot ng tatlong gintong medalya kabilang ang Qualifying Time-A sa women’s 200m backstroke sa tiyempong 2:17.79 (2:19.90).

Ang pamosong swimmer ni dating National mentor Pinky Brosas, isa sa founder ng COPA, ay humirit din ng Qualifying Time-B sa 100m freestyle sa oras na 57.83 segundo (57.84) at sa 400m freestyle sa tiyempong 2:05.40 (2:05.76). Sayap Pirates Swim Club 4:45.22 4:37.72

Agaw pansin ang COPA Region 12 representative na magkapatid na Jie Angela Mikaela at John Alexander Michael ng Sayap Pirates Swim Club. Nakopo ng 16-anyos na si Jie ang gintong medalya sa women’s 800m Freestyle (9:32.23) at sa 400m freestyle (4:37.72)

Humirit ang 18-anyos na si John ng ginto sa 400m Individual IM ( 4:49.13) at silver a 200 IM (2:14.88), habang nasorpresa sa 14-anyos mula sa Dumaguete na si Kacie Gabrielle Tionko ng Salabites Swim Sting ang ibang swimmer nang kumubra ng tatlong bronze medal laban sa mas beteranong karibal sa 800m Freestyle (9:54.60), 400m Freestyle (4:48.33), at 100m Breaststroke (1:21.78).

“The Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc., are  fully supporting the Stabilization Committee. For the first time in years may isang national tryouts na inclusive at free para sa lahat ng Pinoy swimmers. That’s why we talked to all our clusters head to send their best swimmers. With this we’re happy and proud to say that COPA was well represented by our swimmers from Manila up to far flung provinces in Mindanao,” sambit ni COPA president Batangas 1st District Congressman Eric Buhain.

“Dahil alam ng swimming communities na mapupuntahan na ang kanilang mga swimmers from age group to junior meet up to the national level, walang dudad mas maraming kabataan ang magsi-swimming nito. This is the best thing that happen in Philippine swimming,” aniya.

Sa panig ng SLP, ratsada rin ang Behrouz Elite Swim Team sa pangunguna nina World Junior championship semi-finalist Jasmine Mojdeh at SEA Age group gold medal winner Heather White.

Kapwa pasok sa qualifying time na itinakda sa women’s 200m butterfly (2:20.76) at women’s 50m freestyle (26.78) ang 16-anyos na si Mojdeh at 15-anyos Fil-British na si White, ayon sa pagkakasunod.

Kabilang sa mga nakapasok sa QT-B ay sina Fil-Am Jarod Jason Hatch sa men’s 50m sa bagong national record na 23.96 lagpas sa QT-A na 24.30, gayondin ang mga seasoned athletes na sina Miguel Baretto, Jasmine Akhaldi, Steve Francis Ho, Garard Jacinto, Ivo Inot , Tanya Dela Cruz, Jexter Chua, Joshua Ang, Jules Mirandilla at Camille Buico. (HTV)