MANILA – The Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) is eyeing four gold medals in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games scheduled to be held in Thailand from Dec. 9 to 22.
Cambodia SEA Games gold medalist Xandi Chua, Filipino-Canadian Kayla Noelle Sanchez, Filipino-American Miranda Cristina Renner, Chloe Kennedy Anne Isleta, Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Heather White, Quendy Fernandez (UAAP MVP), Kyle Louise Bulaga, Gian Christopher Santos, Logan Wataru Noguchi, and Joran Paul Orogo make up the swimming team.
The Australia-trained Chua will defend the 200m backstroke gold medal she won with a time of 2:13.20 in 2023. She is also entered in the 100m back, 200m and 400m Individual Medley, 4x100m freestyle relay and medley relay, and 4x200m freestyle relay events.
“We have a competitive team. These athletes passed the national tryout and are capable of winning medals since we used the bronze medal time of the 2023 SEAG as standard qualifying time,” PAI secretary general Eric Buhain said during Thursday’s weekly Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports, Inc. (TOPS) forum at the PSC Conference Room at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
“It’s a combination of youth and experience. We saw how Kyla (Sanchez) performed in the Asian Games and Tokyo Olympics. SEAG is a different stage, so we have a big chance,” added the former national swimmer.
“The target is at least four golds. But whatever the color of these medals, I’m sure that aquatics will contribute to the medal campaign of the Philippine delegation,” said Buhain, former chair of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
In Cambodia, the Philippines also won the women’s 100m backstroke courtesy of Tei Salvino, six silvers, and seven bronzes.
The aquatics delegation includes Rose Ann Ocmer and Jana Mary Rodrigiez (diving); Jada Corrine Cruz, Graziella Sophia Ato, Alexander Lawrence Chua, and Joshua Raphael Del Rio (open water swimming); and water polo teams (14 men and 14 women).
“We don’t have an entry in artistic swimming. Hopefully, next SEA Games we can form a team,” said Buhain, who will join the Thailand trip along with PAI president Michael Angelo Vargas and executive director Anthony Reyes. (PNA)
