THE Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) proudly announced its first batch of promising talents who qualified to represent the Philippines at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, the 46th Southeast Asia Age Group Championships, and the 11th Asian Open Water Swimming Championships.
Homegrown star and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist (2022) Chloe Isleta, who topped the list with 770 WA points, and SEAG record holder (2023) Xiandi Chua (723) will lead the women’s team to the World Cup Series (short course), alongside Fil-American Cristina Miranda Renner (717) and World Junior Championship semifinalist Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh (690). In the men’s side, Joshua Gabriel Ang (749) and Miguel Barreto (743) will spearhead the team.
Other members of the men’s squad include Arizona State University mainstay Fil-Am Kyle Gerard Valdez (715), Rian Marco Tirol (747), Metin Junior Mahmutoglu (726), Rafael Barreto (723), Jerard Dominic Jacinto (733), Nathan Jao (722), Lucio Cuyong II (664), Raymund Paloma (681), Albert Jose Amaro II (682), and Fil-Canadian Robin Christopher Domingo (665).
National Academy in Sports (NAS) scholar Tarlac-based Fil-Am Riannah Chantelle Coleman and US-based Billie Blu Mondonedo, both with three QTA, will lead the team competing in the SEA Age Championships (long course) scheduled for Dec. 6 to 8 in Bangkok, Thailand. Joining them are Mojdeh, Shania Joy Baraquiel, Ava Samantha Bautista, Liv Abigail Florendo, Sophia Rose Garra, and Bacolod-based Maxene Hayley Uy.
Incoming freshman at the Columbian University in New York Fil-American Gian Santos, who achieved five QTS during the Trials, will team up with Asian Age Group titlist Jamesray Mishael Ajido on the boys’ team as the Nationals aim to match or surpass the two gold medals won in the previous year’s edition in Malaysia.
Other members of the boys’ team include Albert Jose Amaro, Ryian Zach Denzel Belen, Jaydison Dacuycuy, Fil-German Alexander George Eichler, Fil-Mongolian Enkhmend Enkhmend, Ivo Nikolai Enot, Peter Dean, and Reiniel Mikos Trinidad.
“Congratulations, good luck, and break a leg,” said Rep. Eric Buhain, the 1st District Representative of Batangas and PAI secretary general. “They’ve successfully passed the qualifying stage, which is a significant achievement. I hope they can maintain their momentum. However, I must remind them that the journey to greatness has just begun.”\Buhain, an Olympic swimmer and PH sports Hall of Famer, is leading the current PAI leadership in their pursuit of developing a well-trained and highly competitive swimming pool for future Olympics.
“In the next Olympics, our swimmers will be contenders for medals, not just token participants,” Buhain stated.
PAI views its new training pool as the first batch of “rough diamonds to be polished” through a rigorous training program, more demanding than the one these rookies underwent to meet the Qualifying Standard Time (QTS) and World Aquatics (WA) points during the National Trials last month at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool in Malate, Manila.
The World Cup Series comprises competition on Oct. 18-20 (Series 1) in Shanghai, China; Oct. 24-26 (Series 2) in Incheon, South Korea; Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 (Series 3) in Singapore; and Dec. 10-15 (Cup Championships) in Budapest, Hungary.
PAI also announced the composition of the National Team that will participate in the Open Swimming tilt slated for November 8-10 in Hong Kong. The list includes Ilocos Norte pride Grazielle Sophia Ato, Athea Margarette Lagunay, Athena Chang, and Hannah Sanchez for the women’s team, while Davao protegee Paulo Labanon, Rafael Cruz, Roy Angelo Rodriguez, and Eirron Vibar will represent the men’s team.
Buhain assured that PAI will cover all expenses for the team’s participation, including uniforms, airfare, and allowances.
