THE Philippine Aquatics, Inc. is calling all homegrown swimmers and Filipinos based abroad to register for the National Trials in the 50-meter and 25-meter swimming championships slated on August 15 to 18 and August 19 to 21, respectively, at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool in Malate, Manila.
PAI secretary general Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain said the national tryouts will be the basis for the selection of members of the Philippine Team that will participate in this year’s World Aquatics World Cup series (25-meter short course) and the 46th Southeast Asian Age Group Championships (50-meter-long course).
The World Series’ first leg is slated on Oct. 18 to 20 in Shanghai, China; while Series 2 and 3 are respectively slated on Oct. 24 to 26 in Incheon, South Korea; and Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in Singapore.
The series culminates with the championships on Dec. 10 to 15 in Budapest, Hungary.
On the other hands, the 46th SEA Age Group is slated on Dec. 6 to 8 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The same tryouts, Buhain stressed, will also be used for the composition of the PH Team for next year’s World Aquatics Championships in Singapore (July 11-15).
“No exceptions. Filipino swimmers based abroad must be physically present in the trials. Gone are the days, na mag-submit lang ng performance time from abroad, sapat na para masama sa National Team. If you want to be included in the team, come home and join the tryouts” said the swimming icon and Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer.