THE Philippine Finswimming Federation, Inc. sealed an agreement with the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. on Saturday to help form a competitive team for next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
COPA president and Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain signed the Memorandum of Agreement with PFFI president Maria Tatjana Claudeene Medina in front of over 400 young swimmers, coaches and parents, who participated in the 1st COPA-Samahang Manlalangoy sa Pilipinas Christmas Friendship Swimfest at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Center in Malate, Manila.
Witnesses to the MOA signing were COPA officials Chito Rivera and Richard Luna, as well as PFFI national coach Mary Ann Reyes.
“This is another milestone in our effort to unite all leaders not only in swimming but in the aquatic sports community. Kailangan nating magtulungan at magdamayan sa isa’t isa para sa ikatatagumpay ng sports. We’re grateful sa opportunity na ibinigay sa COPA ng PFFI,” said Buhain, a two-time swimming Olympian and holder of 15 Southeast Asian Games gold medals.
For her part, Medina expressed her gratitude to COPA and to Rep. Buhain for lending a hand and providing the opportunity for their athletes to undergo high-level training.
“We’re happy and excited. With Rep. Buhain and the rest of COPA’s expertise, may magandang resulta ito sa aming mga atleta,” said Medina.
Under the agreement, Rivera stressed COPA will call a national tryout, train, select and recommend athletes to be included in the eight-man (four men and four women) National Team off to Cambodia SEA Games in July next year.
The last time a Philippine fin swimming team won medals in SEAG was in 2011 in Palembang, Indonesia with Danielle Faith Torres winning the gold in the 50-meter and the 4x100m men’s relay of Franz Baacom Leonard Sabellina, Matthew Rodriguez and Mike Godoy capturing the bronze.
After the MOA signing, several members of the fin training pool played in an exhibition swim-off to the delight of the crowd, which included top COPA resident swimmers Nicola Queen Diamante and Paulene Beatrice Obebe.
The two promising stars were again adjudged as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Swimmers in their respective age-group classes with the 11-year-old Diamante of RSS Dolphins and Grade 5 honor student of Augustinian Abbey School in Las Pinas dominating the 50-meter freestyle (31.66), 50m backstroke (34.43) and 50m butterfly (34.43).
Obebe, the pride of Aqua Sports Swim Club, clinched the gold medal in the girls’ 12-yrs, old class 50m fly (31.18) 50m back (34.83) and 50-m free (29.33).
In other results, Kean Sebastian Paragatos won the boys’ 12-yrs. Class A 50m back (33.23), Lance Jacon (Class B, 38.55), Emmanuel Suasba (C, 44.28), Clyde Jose in boys 13-yrs. Class A ( 33.51), Jeff Galve (B, 35.71), Avin Kotapati (C, 42.79).