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KUMPIYANSA ang pamunuan ng Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) sa magiging kampanya ng Philippine Team sa gaganaping 33nd Southeast Asian Games sa Disyembre 9-22 sa Bangkok Swimming Center sa Thailand.
“We formed a competitive young team. Our athletes are the best among our elite pool. They have gone through a tough National tryout and they are all capable of winning medals since we used the bronze medal time of the last SEAG edition as standard qualifying time,” pahayag ni PAI Secretary General Eric Buhain kahapon sa kanyang pagbisita sa Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports, Inc. (TOPS) ‘Usapang Sports’ sa PSC Conference Room.
“It’s a combination of youth and experienced with Olympic medalist Fil-Canadian Kyla Sanchez leading the squad. Nakita natin yung performance ni Kyla (Sanchez) sa Asian Games and Olympics in Tokyo, but SEAG is a different stage, kaya malaki ang laban natin,” aniya.
“Target natin at least four gold medals. But what ever the colors, I’m sure may magiging ambag ang aquatics sa kampanyang ng Philippine delegation sa SEA Games,” pahayag ni Buhain sa lingguhang sports forum na itinataguyod ng Philippine Sports Commission, Behrouz Persian Cuisine, Pocari Sweat at Lila Healthy Premium Coffee.
Humakot lamang ng dalawang ginto mula kina Xiandi Chua (200m backstroke) at Tei Salvino (100m backstroke), anim na silver at pitong bronze medals ang Pinoy swimmers sa Cambodia edition.
Iginiit ni Buhain na mas handa ang mahaba ang preparasyon ng mga local swimmers sa kanilang hiwa-hiwalay na swimming camp na nilahukan hanggang sa kasalukuyan.
“Kyla (Sanchez) and Logan (Eataru) are in deep training in Canada. Both Xiandi (Chua) and Chloe (Isleta) trained in Australia, while other is the US like Miranda Renner, Joran Paul Orogon, Gian Santos and Heather White who also debuted as member of Duke University in the US NCAA,” ayon kay Buhain.
Nakatuon din ang pansin sa mga homegrown na sina UAAP Most Valuable Player Quendy Fernandez ng Palawan, dating junior champion Micaela Mojdeh at ang 15-anyos na si Kyla Louise Bulaga mula sa Ilocos Sur.
Ayon kay Buhain isasabak din sa SEAG ang dalawang diver na sina Rose Ann Ocmer at Janat Mary Rodrigiez, gayundin ang 28-miyembro ng water polo team (babae at lalaki) at sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon apat na swimmers para sa open water event na sina Jada Corrine Cruz, Graziella Sophia Ato, Alexander Lawrence Chua at Joshua Raphael Del Rio.
“Sa artistic swimming lang tayo walang entry, hopefully next SEA Games makabuoa na rin tayo dyan ng team,” sambit ni Buhain.
Pinasalamatan ni Buhain ang lahat ng regional directors ng PAI na siyang masinsin na nagsagawa at nagpatupad ng grassroots sports development program, gayundin sa suporta ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Speedo at pagtataguyod ng MVP Sports Foundation. (HNT)
Photo caption:
POSITIBO ang pananaw ni PAI Secretary General Eric Buhain sa magiging kampanya ng Philippine Team sa gaganaping 33nd Southeast Asian Games sa Disyembre na kaniyang inihayag kahapon sa pagbisita sa Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports, Inc. (TOPS) ‘Usapang Sports’ sa PSC Conference Room sa Rizal Memorial Sports Complex sa Malate, Maynila. (HENRY TALAN VARGAS)
