Multiple national junior record holder Jamesray Michael Ajido and World Junior Championship campaigner Amina Bungubung secured spots in the national team competing in the 35th Southeast Asia Age Group Championship slated August 24 to 26 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Both part of the Quezon City Buccaneers Swim Club under coach Sherwin Santiago, Ajido and Bungubung broke the qualifying time standards in their respective classes on Friday at the close of the national tryouts organized by the World Aquatic-backed Philippine Swimming Inc., headed by president Miko Vargas and secretary general Batangas Rep. Eric Buhain.
The 14-year-old Ajido, a double gold-medal winner in last year’s SEA Age-Group tilt in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, proved to be a force to reckon with, with victories in the boys’ 14-15 200m Individual Medley and 100m butterfly, clocking 2:14.33 and 57.46 seconds, respectively. He broke the QTS of 2:14.83 and 58.43.
The FINIS brand ambassador and holder of national records in the boys’ 13-under 50m butterfly (26.52), 100m fly (58.13), 50m backstroke (29.20) and 100m back (1:02.42), also claimed the gold in the 100m backstroke, clocking 1:01.73, but failing to surpass the QTS (1:01.30).
Bungabung, 16, member of the 8-man PH team in the world tourney last year in Lima, Peru, meantime, got another chance to don the Philippine colors as she topped the girls’ 16-18 50m freestyle in 27.58, breaking the QTS of 27.69. She is also part of the team in the Jakarta edition.
Their QBSC teammates Mishka Sy and Jalil Taguinod also shone in the event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Speedo, with the latter shattering the QTS in the girls’ 16-18 200m fly (2:29.07) and 200m back (2:29.86) via impressive times of 2:24.36 and 2:29.54, respectively, while the former ruled the boys’ 16-18 50m breast (29.88), bettering the QTS of 29.89.
“We have 15 young swimmers who surpassed the QTS in their respective events. We’re hoping, marami pa tayong mag-qualify from the three remaining tryouts. But for sure, we will send the best of the best in Jakarta, quality over quantity tayo,” said PSI president Miko Vargas, who awarded the medals to all the winners, along with secretary general Eric Buhain, event organizer Chito Rivera and technical head Richard Luna.