The thrills of playing in an international-like swimming competition resumes as FINIS Philippines closes its 2022 calendar with the highly-anticipated National Long Course Swimming Competitions Series.
FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia announced that young swimmers from the Visayas would be the first to experience the brand’s thrust in organizing quality competitions as the Iloilo Sports Complex Swimming Pool in Iloilo City hosts the Visayas leg of the series on November 5 and 6.
Kyla Soquillon, a national team member and one of the FINIS ambassadors from Malay, Aklan, is expected to lead participants vie for pride and glory, as well as the chance to join the FINIS high-profile lineup of brand ambassadors.
“We have done it in our previous short course meet, I’m confident that we will make it bigger and much better as we continue to inspire Filipino young swimmers through high-quality competitions,” said Garcia, an active triathlete and ‘Godfather’ to the TODO Para-athletes Team.
The Mindanao leg is set on November 12 and 13 at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex Swimming Pool in Zamboanga, while the Luzon Leg is slated November 26 and 27 at the New Clark City Aquatic Center at Capas Tarlac.
Garcia said that for the Visayas and Mindanao entry forms and info kits, interested individuals, schools, swimming clubs and organization are advised to send entries to events@finis.ph; leigh_sanchez07@yahoo.com; and renolddutchilla_1877@yahoo.com.ph.
Luzon Leg entry forms and info kits are available at the events@finis.ph; coachrichardluna@gmail.com; (cc: ricpolo12@yahoo.com).
Garcia revealed that the best and brightest swimmers from the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao legs will clash for the FINIS National Finals on December 17 and 18 at the New Clark City Aquatic Center, where exciting special prizes await the Top 3 Swim Teams and the Most Outstanding Swimmers.
Aside from Soquillon and World Junior semifinalist Jasmine ‘Water Beast’ Mojdeh, FINIS also signed national junior record holder Jamesray Ajido as its new brand ambassador.
The 13-year-old Ajido holds the national junior record in 100-m Fly (58.82), 200-m Individual Medley (2:15.87), 400-IM (4:58.71), 200-m Back (2:17.09), 50- Fly (26.95) and 100- Back (1:03.28) he set during the Philippine Swimming Inc. Grand Prix and the Asian age-group selection series this year.
Aside from swimming, Garcia said FINIS is also helping and supporting kids’ triathlon with a similar championship series, duathlon, open-water swimming and coaches education program.
In partnership with the American Swimming Coaches Association, FINIS is currently conducting face-to-face Coaches Certificate seminars for Levels 1 to 4 at the Acropolis Green Sports Complex Clubhouse with ASCA Director for International Clinics Chad Onken conducting the classes.
“This is our way to help professionalize coaching in the country. ‘Yung mga schools at swimming clubs, siyempre mas gusto nilang coach ‘yung may malawak na kaalaman hindi lamang sa experience,” said Garcia.