COPA backs Stabilization Committee as unifying group

THE Stabilization Committee declared a successful National swimming tryouts over the weekend as 39 swimmers out of 188 participants passed the Qualifying Time A and B even as new national record was established at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.

“It’s a success. We owe it a lot to all the swimmers who brave the challenges, to the coaches and swimming clubs, associations particularly those from the provinces who travel from as far as Mindanao just to be here to support the Stabilization Committee in our effort to unite the community and select the most deserving swimmers for the Philippine Team,” said Stabilization Committee member Bones Floro.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) legal counsel Wharton Chan and Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) Vice President Arrey Perez were the other members of the committee tasked by the World Aquatics to temporarily run the affairs in Philippine swimming including forming of National Team to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May.

For the first time in over two decades, the swimming tryouts were inclusive and free in charge to all Filipino swimmers and among who responded were members of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA) and the Swim League Philippines (SLP).

A total of 100 swimmers affiliated with COPA from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have joined.

Xiandi Chua of Top Swim Club was the brightest star with her three-gold medal haul including the Qualifying Time-A in the women’s 200m backstroke at 2:17.79.

The champion swimmer of former national mentor Pinky Brosas, one of the founders of COPA, also recorded a Qualifying Time-B in the 100m freestyle with a time of 57.83 seconds (57.84) and in the 400m freestyle with a time of 2:05.40 (2:05.76).

“The Congress in Philippine Aquatics, Inc. is fully supporting the Stabilization Committee. For the first time in years may isang national tryouts na inclusive at free para sa lahat ng Pinoy swimmers. That’s why we asked all our clusters head to send their best swimmers dahil napaka-importante nito. With this we’re happy and proud to say that COPA was well represented by our swimmers from Manila up to far flung provinces in Mindanao,” said COPA president Batangas 1st District Congressman Eric Buhain.

“Dahil alam ng swimming communities na may mapupuntahan na ang kanilang mga swimmers from age group to junior meet up to the national level, walang duda mas maraming kabataan ang magsi-swimming ngayon. This is the best thing that happen in Philippine swimming,” Buhain added.

For SLP, one of its affiliated swim club Behrouz Elite Swim Team headed by World Junior championship semifinalist Jasmine Mojdeh and SEA Age group gold medal winner Heather White made their mark in their favorite class,

Both junior standout passed the Qualifying Time-B in the women’s 200m butterfly (2:20.76) and 50m freestyle (26.78), respectively. The 16-year old Mojdeh also won the the 200m Individual Medley clocking 2:27.44

Among who breached the QT-A and B were Fil-Am Jarod Jason Hatch who established a new national record in men’s 50m freestyle with a time of 23.96, erasing the 24.30 old mark, as well as seasoned swimmers Miguel Baretto, Jasmine Akhaldi, Steve Francis Ho, Garard Jacinto, Ivo Inot, Tanya Dela Cruz, Jexter Chua, Joshua Ang, Jules Mirandilla, Regina Castrillo, Rafael Barreto, Pam Santos, Rian Tirol, John Paderes, Yohan Cabana, Joshua Ramos and Camille Buico.