PHILIPPINE Sports Hall-of-Famer and Batangas Rep. Eric Buhain said the success of the National BiFin swimming team in the just concluded 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia proves it deserves full support from both the private and public sector to further boosts its development program particularly in the grassroots level.
Competing for the first time in the regional biennial meet, the eight-man Espinelli Trading-backed national team all made it to the finals in their respective events, with Palarong Pambansa swimming champion Alexi Cabayaran winning a silver medal in the 200 women bifin breaststroke, clocking 1 minute and 56.49 seconds behind gold medal winner Muyni Kaing (1:51.69) of Cambodia.
“Raising awareness through regular activities and to encourage all swimming clubs, groups, and organizers to include bifin in their program of events could be a big help for the sports to grow. Maganda ang future natin sa bifin and the recent campaign of our team in Cambodia proved that. Kahit maiksi lang ang naging preparation may contribution sila sa delegation,” Buhain, the two-time Olympian and currently president of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA), said after meeting the nationals upon their arrival from Cambodia last Monday morning.
“Itong pagkapanalo ni Alexi ng silver medal ay malaking bagay sa sports. Hopefully, ma-encourage niya ang iba pa na subukan ang bifin swimming. Like classical (swimming), maraming medals ang at stake dito,” Buhain said.
