MANILA, Philippines — With strong backing from both the government and private sector, the Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) is preparing to send athletes in all aquatic disciplines to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, this December.
PAI Secretary General Eric Buhain announced that national tryouts will be staged not only for swimming but also for water polo and open-water events, as part of the federation’s push to reclaim the country’s prominence in the regional meet.
The national swimming tryouts are set from August 22-24 at the Teofilo Ildefonso Swimming Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC), while open-water swimming tryouts will be held from August 30-31 at the Playa Tropical Resorts Hotel in Barangay Victoria, Currimao, Ilocos Norte.
The men’s water polo team has already been formed through a series of tryouts, while slots for the women’s team remain open. Interested players may still join until August 14, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the RMSC.
Meanwhile, the national artistic swimming squad is in intensive training in Bacolod City under coach Giella Garcia Sanchez as well as the diving team under coach Marie Dimanche.
“The transition year is tough and challenging for us, but we have risen to the occasion. Since our first year after the POC-guided elections, we immediately set up a data center to track performances from regional tournaments to national championships. We strengthened grassroots development through a series of competitions, seminars, and e-learning for coaches and technical officials,” said Buhain, an Olympian and Philippine Sports Hall of Famer.
For elite athletes, PAI has provided full support for international training and high-level competitions. Currently, Olympian Kyla Sanchez is training in Canada, while SEA Games champions Xiandi Chua and Chloe Isleta are in Melbourne.
Buhain is also banking on 2023 SEA Games gold medalist Tea Salvino, junior standouts Jasmine Mojdeh and Jamesray Mishael Ajido, veterans Jerard Jacinto, Filipino-American Gian Santos, and Andria Eichler — both fresh from competing at the World Championships in Singapore.
This preparation, Buhain said, has been made possible with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission, SMART and the MVP Sports Foundation.
He also stressed that there will be no automatic slots for the national team.
“Everybody must participate in the national tryouts. Even athletes based abroad who wish to join the team must come home and try out. This is an open tryout — all bona fide PAI members are welcome,” he said.
Buhain, together with PAI President Miko Vargas, recently attended the World Aquatics Congress in Singapore.
In the last SEA Games in Cambodia, the Philippines placed fifth out of six competing nations, securing two golds, six silvers, and eight bronzes. Singapore topped the competition with 47 medals, including 22 golds.
“The upcoming Southeast Asian Games will be a true test for our athletes and a measure of how far we’ve progressed in the region,” Buhain said.
