A 32-man Philippine delegation composed of 19 swimmers, four divers, six coaches and three officials will leave for Jakarta, Indonesia today, Tuesday, to participate in the 45th Southeast Asian Age Group Aquatics Championship set Aug. 24-26.
Jamesray Ajido, the national junior record holder in the 13-under class, and 2022 World Junior Championship campaigner Amina Isabelle Bungubung will lead the team that was formed through intensive National tryouts conducted by the new Philippine Aquatics leadership led by president Miko Vargas and secretary- general Eric Buhain.
“We are sending a lean team with a high chance of winning medals for our country. This is the first SEA Age Group team under the new administration of Philippine Aquatics. On behalf of our President Michael Vargas, we are proud of our team, and we are very happy that swimming is very active nationwide given the diversity of hometowns of our team,” said Buhain, a two-time Olympian and congressman of the First District of Batangas.
Aside from Ajido and Bungubung, the team also includes Mishka Sy, Jalid Taguinod; Makati City pride Ivo Nikolai Enot, Joshua Park from Paranaque City, Aishel Evangelista from Caloocan City, Estifano Ramos and Lance Rafael Cruz from Manila, Patricia Mae Santor and Shairinne Floriano from Antipolo City, as well as Peter Cyrus Dean from Quezon Province.
Also in the team are Jie Angela Mikaela Talosig from Midsayap, North Cotabato; Catherine Cruz represented Mabalacat, Pampanga, Arabella Taguinota came from Pasig City, while Bea Mabalay and Jennuel Boo De Leon both came from Aklan. Also joining the team are US-based Filipino-foreigners Clark Kent Apuada and Ava Samantha Bautista.
Buhain appointed Ramil Ilustre as swimming head coach, along with assistants Cyrus Alcantara, Manuel De Leon Mark Pido, and Wilfredo Cruz, while Chito Rivera is the delegation head, with coach Anthony Reyes as his deputy.
“Lean but quality team. It’s a smaller team compared to last year, but it’s all competitive because they all qualified in the qualifying time standard set during the National tryouts.
Hopefully, they will land in the top eight and podium finish. We are hoping for the best, expectations are high for the new leadership, so please pray for the whole team,” said Rivera, the executive director of Philippine Aquatics.
