PAI values fairness and inclusivity in the formation of Philippine Swimming Team

 The Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) is calling all homegrown swimmers and Filipinos based abroad to register and participate in the National Trials for 50-meter and 25-meter swimming championships slated on August 15-18 and August 19-21, respectively, at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool in Malate, Manila.

PAI Secretary-General Batangas 1^st District Congressman 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 46^th Southeast Asian Age Group Championships (50-meter-long course).

The World Series comprises competition on Oct. 18-20 (Series 1) in Shanghai, China; Series 2 on Oct. 24-26 in Incheon, South Korea; and Series 3 on Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in Singapore. The series culminates with the Championships on Dec. 10-15 in Budapest, Hungary.  Likewise, the 46^th SEA Age Group is slated on Dec. 6-8 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The same National tryouts, Buhain stressed, will also be used for the composition of the PH Team for next year’s participation in the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore (July 11-15)

“No exception. Filipino swimmers based in abroad must be physically present in the Trials. Gone were 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-Fame.

“Even in the US, Europe and other countries in the region are doing the same. Walang seeded or shoo-in, pipiliin natin yung best swimmers based sa results ng tryouts. We decided na one tryouts na lang for the whole year calendar, para hindi na rin masyadong magastos on the part of our swimmers based sa abroad” added the two-time Olympian and SEA Games record holder.

Buhain said that PAI announced an early registration for swimmers, coaches, and club memberships, which was extended until June 15, according to the recommendation of the late PAI Executive Director Chito Rivera, to accommodate more athletes, particularly those in the provinces.

The swimmer’s registration was Rivera’s legacy, according to Buhain, as the swimming federation finally got its own systematic database program for swimmers to easily find their personal records and current individual ranking based on their performances in all PAI-sanctioned competitions.

“Walang mga record na na-turnover sa amin. With this system, makikita na natin kung sino ang mga swimmers na sabihin na natin top 10 sa kung anong  event, regionally and national. With this mababantayan ng mga swimmers yung kanilang mga time para magsanay ng Mabuti para mkakuha ng mataas na ranking,” said Buhain.

All these programs are the results of coach Chito’s handiwork and Buhain vowed to continue the reform the former Executive Director propagated to unify all aquatics stakeholders.

Rivera, also the head coach of Jose Rizal University varsity team and co-founder of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics (COPA) succumbed to a heart attack recently. He is 65.

“Coach Chito (Rivera) is a great loss to Philippine aquatics. Serving as Executive Director of PAI for a short period.  He strengthens the foundation in the regional area through constant communications and support in the organizing He has a big role to the success of the country’s hosting of the Asian Age Group championships for the first time in years,” said Buhain.

“His legacy lives on as we continued to put our best foot forward in our target to further enhance the development not just for swimming but for other disciplines in aquatics such as open water, water polo, diving, and artistic swimming, from regional up to the national level,” said Buhain.

Buhain announced that PAI president Miko Vargas has named PAI membership committee head Anthony Reyes as the new Executive Director.