With the Palarong Pambansa just around the corner, expect the best of swimmers to come out from age group level and represent their regions.
Eight of 15 swimmers who have made the cut to the national team which compete in the 35th Southeast Asia Age Group Championship in August will do just that when the 2023 Palarong Pambansa fires off on August 1 at the Marikina Sports Complex.
One of them is tenth grader Patricia Mae Santor, who emerged as among the most bemedaled swimmers at the close of the national tryouts organized by the World Aquatic-backed Philippine Swimming Inc.
Another is La Salle Greenhills standout Jalil Taguinod, who is in his final year as a secondary student athlete.
The 15-year-old Santor showed why she is the Rookie of the Year in the recent University Athletic Association of the Philippines meet after qualifying for three spots in the national youth team.
Santor is coming out of a three-year hiatus after she had to stop competing because of the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she made it after topping the 200-meter butterfly in 2:25.18, which was way better than the qualification time of 2:27.16.
In the 400-meter breaststroke, Santor clocked 2:50.11, hitting the standard of 2:52.20.
Santor, coached by Ramil Ilustre of Ilustre East Aquatic, then earned qualification in the 400-m IM in 5:26.24, after the getting past the cutoff of 5:26.64.
“I did not really expect to qualify because I did not really go all out. But, still, with my hard work, I pulled it off,” said Santor.
The 17-year-old Taguinod hopes to do well in his final year in high school, and he hopes to make a difference as well.
Taguinod came up with a fast time of 29.88 seconds in 16-18 year old, 50-meter breaststroke action, to beat the QTS of 28.89 seconds.
Jamesray Michael Ajido and World Junior Championship campaigner Amina Bungubung also secured their spots, with San Beda’s Prince Dave Calma, Green Archers tanker Lance Cruz, and they will also compete in the Palaro.
The 14-year-old Ajido and Bungubung broke through the qualifying time standards in their respective categories.