Swim Philippines 93rd NCAA Issue

NCAA SEASON 94 ISSUE WHERE THE FIERCEST COMPETE TO DOMINATE

READY FOR IT! MEET THE NEW SWIMMERS POISED TO MAKE A SPLASH

NCAA SEASON 94 ISSUE WHERE THE FIERCEST COMPETE TO DOMINATE

READY FOR IT! MEET THE NEW SWIMMERS POISED TO MAKE A SPLASH

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HEALTH NUTRITION WELLNESS

Travel Nutrition

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Swimming Under Pressure: How Successful Teams Thrive Together

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SPECIAL FEATURE Breaker of Records

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COVER STORY

Meet the New Breed

EDITOR'S NOTE Community Editor: MAITA DE JESUS Art Director: REGGIE GOLOY Editorial Assistant: REYLYN CRUZ Contributors: FIA BATUA and MIGUEL ANTONIO FELIZARDO Social Media Specialist: BEN FRANCIA Publisher: SPORTS ‘R US MARKETING & EVENTS GROUP Photographer: PAT GOLOY All Contents copyright 2018, Reserved for SPORTS ‘R US MARKETING AND EVENTS GROUP. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of SPORTS ‘R US MARKETING AND EVENTS GROUP.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING A STUDENT ATHLETE? For our swimmers, who have been competing for more than half of their lives, they have learned the delicate balance of working hard in both their academics and their sport. And when they set their foot into competing in the NCAA, they compete for something bigger than themselves— they’re out to bring glory to their school. So to this year’s new breed of swimmers, best of luck to you! Amidst the pressure to perform and balance everything out, remember to have fun, and to love each moment you have in the competition. Make a splash, make some memories, and make your school proud!

MAITA DE JESUS Community Editor

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GET TO KNOW THE TEAMS

A preview of the competing NCAA teams for Season 94

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SWIM KIDS

Look at the future of the sport right here!

speCIAL FLIP covers

Cassie and Rona wearing ARENA WOMEN’S ONE PIECE FITNESS; Jonathan, Daryl, Christian, Thomas, Russel, Reeve, Ted and Manuel wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER.

PHOTO SOURCE: WWW.PIXABAY.COM

travel nutrition

by Fia Batua, RND –CSN

Licensed Nutritionist Dietitian –Sports Nutritionist 09335463376 | aminabatua@gmail.com

TRAVELING FROM PLACE TO PLACE HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR MOST ATHLETES AROUND THE GLOBE. It’s either by road, overseas, or simply just dining out a few hours before the next event or competition.

The ultimate goal here is to arrive ready to perform at their best. Here are some helpful travel nutrition hacks: ON THE ROAD 1. Pack your own food and a healthy bag of snacks. This can help you control extra food intakes from roadside stops 2. Plan your meals. It is also better if you do know your daily personal dietary guidelines

Food Kit: • Boiled eggs • Whole fruits like banana, apple, pear, orange, grapes • Light sandwiches • Greek Yogurt and nuts • Few scoops of protein powder • Your own drinking bottle 3. Pack a water bottle all the time 2

OVERSEAS Traveling overseas can put you at risk for food poisoning, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa, where there are a high number of mild, serious, and fatal incidents.

MILD - Diarrhea SERIOUS - Hepatitis A and Typhoid Fever FATAL - Illness caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

1. Stay hydrated and consume foods rich in fiber.

This will keep you from having a possible stomach upset and constipation 2. Limit Caffeine. Excessive intake of caffeine may affect your sleeping pattern.

3. Always ask for Vegetarian meals from the menu. Vegan set meals are light, fiber-rich, and are nutrient-dense.

4. Pack a drinking water bottle all the time. This will keep you hydrated and save you from the possible unsafe water supply.

5. Wash hands thoroughly, all the time 6. Avoid raw meat/fish

7. Best to avoid exotic food especially before your game/event.

Food Kit: • Trail Mix/ Roasted Nuts • Your own drinking bottle • Packed Protein Bars • Chicken Sandwich • Over the counter medications -in case you experience a Gastrointestinal problem (Diarrhea, Constipation, Heartburn) KNOW YOUR DESTINATION Best to do your own research before the event and check the following: 1. What kind of cuisine will the catered cuisine serve?

2. Are you allowed to prepare your own meals?

3. Are you allowed to choose meals?

Search for healthy restaurants near you. And when dining out, it is best to choose more vegetables, vegetarian meals, fish, and brown/red rice Be smart when traveling, pack healthy snacks, and always ask for garnishes (vegetables, slices of fruits) to keep your dish better. Aim for better instead of perfect, so don’t forget to enjoy every meal and just eat mindfully!

HIGH PERFORMANCE

Migie Felizardo, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, Pn1 STUDENT ATHLETES EXPERIENCE A LOT OF DEMANDS AND STRESS, NOT JUST IN HAVING PEAK PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO IN ACADEMICS, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND THE PRESSURE OF MAINTAINING THEIR SCHOLARSHIP. This is why many student athletes experience some form of overtraining or underrecovering which leads to even poor performance during competition. The symptoms usually seen in a person may include muscles always sore, feeling of anxiety or depression during training, lack of vigor, poor sleep and appetite, an elevated resting heart rate, and easily getting sick. Thus, it is best that student athletes take a proactive approach in recovery to avoid these symptoms and perform at their best most of the time especially during competition. Here are some things to do to speed up recovery time.

1. TAKE A BREAK Everyone needs to stop and change their usual routine and training regimen. It’s not bad to rest for a few days and do something else not related to sports especially if your body is really fatigued.

In fact, it will not hinder your progress but it will recharge your body, giving you the ability to train harder when you go back to the training plan.

Just make sure to not make it an excuse to not work hard and train consistently.

2. FOAM ROLL, MASSAGE, AND MOBILITY WORK Regular massage at least once a week or twice a month helps reduce muscle soreness, improves tissue quality, increases blood circulation, relaxes the mind and refreshes the entire body which accelerates the recovery process. If regular massages can’t be done another option would be foam rolling. The foam roll routine is like a massage, it uses deep compression to help roll out the muscle spasms that develop

over time. These deep compressions cause the nerves to relax and loosens the muscles, gets the blood flowing and helps the body recover.

Lastly, doing stretches, active (mobility work) or static (holds) stretches after foam rolling or massages boosts the positive effect of stretching due to the improved tissue/muscle quality.

3. LOW INTENSITY STEADY STATE CARDIO ON OFF-DAYS Doing steady state cardio like brisk walking, jogging, swimming and biking at a lower intensity during non-training days is beneficial for cardiovascular health and blood circulation.

Again, that pumping blood drives nutrients into your muscles which accelerates the recovery process. All you need to do is move enough without the high-impact activities to increase circulation, and purposely enough to activate the nervous system and elongate muscles. It also serves as a mental break from rigorous and intense training sessions. Try doing at least 30 min of low intensity work as an option for recovery during off-days.

4. SLEEP Getting enough quality sleep is obviously very important for student athletes. Sleep is essential to health and survival and failing to sleep well can strain the body even at the cellular level.

Aim for 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night.

Improving sleep may include being consistent in time for rest, keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet, developing a relaxing routine before bedtime, and avoiding alcohol, stimulants or heavy meals during dinner. During times when it is not possible to sleep enough, naps are helpful. If you can, try to work a daily nap into your routine; a quick snooze 25 to 30 minutes is a great way to rejuvenate yourself.

5. EAT WELL AND HYDRATE The goal of good nutrition is to help improve performance, health, and body composition—all at the same time. It’s always good to consider food as fuel for your body and what you take in will really affect your body’s recovery time. There are so many nutritional guidelines and even fad diets spreading everywhere. But the basics for good sports nutrition are almost always the same.

These include following a balanced diet based on the healthy eating plate or MyPlate, choosing the right macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat), getting enough micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), adjusting portion control, food quality, timing the meals throughout the day and staying hydrated. Student athletes will always normally need more food intake compared to other individuals due to high physical demands of their lifestyle. Hydration status is also crucial not just for performance but also in recovery. How do you know if you’re properly hydrated? By checking your urine: the clearer the urine (clear-pale lemonade color), the better hydrated you are.

Being effective as an athlete not only means training hard but also training smart. This means taking an active approach to recovery and not leaving it to chance. There are so many other ways to speed up recovery, and following a strength and conditioning plan to make the body stronger and resilient will definitely make a difference. Recovering well will make you train harder and perform better!

References: 1. https://ylmsportscience.com/2016/02/28/checklist-for-athletes-to-considerto-enhance-sleep-by-ylmsportscience/ 2. https://www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlate 3. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/ 4. https://imgur.com/gallery/OCqeM

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PHOTO SOURCE: WWW.PIXABAY.COM

SPECIAL FEATURE

They need to have the ability to work with different people— both their coach and teammates

Swimming Under Pressure: How Successful Teams Thrive Together Feeling the pressure of the upcoming season? Rather than breaking under the stress of it all, a successful swim team knows how to motivate each other even through the toughest of times. We talk to Serely Alcaraz, Country Head of ITD World Philippines; on what it takes to have a successful swim team not just survive the season, but to be at their peak.

by maita de jesus SWIMMING, EVEN WHEN CALLED A TEAM, IS A VERY INDIVIDUALISTIC SPORT—records are broken by individuals, each event is done by an individual team member, and while being under the same school makes you a team, there’s can still be much rivalry to be had even between members of the same team.

letters would summarize this—EQ, or Emotional Quotient.” Alcaraz goes further and says that each team member needs self-awareness, selfmanagement, social awareness, and relationship skills. “This would be the key to getting along with different people in a team of different traits and personalities,” she states.

it’s not about ‘me’ but about ‘we’, then ego and jealousy will take a back set for the sake of the team. Swimmers need to realize that everyone has their own strengths and challenges; they all bring their unique gifts to the team. So instead of ego and jealousy, it would be best that they find ways on how to add value to the team.”

So how do you, as a team, stick together? How can you motivate each other, especially when things get tough, and you’re training so hard, that you don’t have time to really bond as a team?

BUILD THAT BOND

KNOW THYSELF UNDER PRESSURE

HAVE SOME EQ

Serely Alcaraz, Philippines Country Head of the Institute of Training and Development (ITD) World Philippines, says that when it comes to team sports, qualifications need to go beyond just simply being good at the sport. “They need to have the ability to work with different people—both their coach and teammates— communicate and relate well with them, be able to handle frustration and losses, etcetera. Two

If these all sound too scary or daunting to do, Alcaraz suggests to start with building a good relationship with each other. “They need to be given opportunities to bond with their teammates in and out of the pool. Having a good foundation of rapport and relationship can be what’s needed so that they can motivate each other in what they’re good at, and work together for the good of the team.”

BRING THE EGO OUT

Swimming is highly individualistic as a sport, but Alcaraz says that once the foundation of friendship and trust is there, it will feel more like a team effort. She says, “When they realize that

Alcaraz says that when someone is under pressure, they usually behave almost the “opposite” of how they would typically behave. “I would often ask members of the team to complete a personality inventory, then share the results with the entire team, so that they know each other’s ‘auto-pilot’—which are traits and characteristics they exhibit when they’re not mindful of how these will impact others. Team building sessions teach members how to work best with each other, especially when pressure sets in. Once aware of these tendencies, they can continue to the team spirit. They’ll be able to handle their own stress while being part of the team.”

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Swimmers aim to always break their personal best at every game. These two aimed to be at their best, and went beyond it to become record breakers.

by maita de jesus

It’s natural for parents to do what’s best for their children, and for Misay, she and her siblings were brought to swimming lessons for “safety” purposes, more than anything. “But after learning that, I learned how to love the sport. It helped me become a better person inside and out,” Misay shares.

PHOTO CREDIT TO EVAN GRABADOR

When she decided to go into competitive swimming, Misay says that she simply went with the flow, learning from each competition that she would join. Her family has been a mainstay in all her competitions. “They were always there to cheer for me. The feeling is definitely different when they’re present in my games, especially in major competitions both in and out of the country,” she says.

The support that she got from her family, friends, and the Benildean community was essential to her success, and she also looked up to Sarah Sjostrom, a world record holder in swimming.

“While I would watch her swimming videos, I JOSE MARI SEBASTIAN C. ARCILLA 19 YEARS OLD UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES – DILIMAN

teammates, because no matter how hard it gets, you can always see that drive, that fire to do everything right. And that keeps me going during tough training sessions.” Baste adds.

Baste was 7 years old when he first started swimming. It was due to the influence of seeing his brothers and sister go through swim training that made him want to try it out for himself. “Being a normal kid, I would sometimes get bored with watching them, so I would tell my mom, ‘I want to go swimming’, but what I really meant was to play in the water, not actually swim. But then my mother enrolled me, and that’s how I got into it.”

When it comes to competition day, Baste credits his active imagination for helping him get through some of the toughest events. “It helps me get into the right mindset during competitions,” He says, “its really the concentration and visualization that you do during the competition.” Baste’s visualization technique may have worked, as being part of the winning team that brought the NCAA championship back when he was still with San Beda College. He says, “I know it’s not much of an achievement for other people, but we worked more than five years to get the trophy we always wanted, and when we did, it made us so ecstatic.”

12 years down the line, Baste has been swimming competitively for nine years now. What he loves about swimming is that no matter how intense each competition gets, the camaraderie and good sportsmanship is still there. “Even after an intense race wherein all the swimmers are tired, we never see each other as enemies, but as friends.”

Baste’s friends and family have been by his side since day 1, supporting him in all his swim meets, making sure he eats well, and follows his training. He adds that when it comes to his academics, he gets the help he needs. “The school monitors my grades to see if it’s okay for me to compete, and some alumni or seniors also offer to tutor me sometimes. I also appreciate the show of support for us athletes during PEP rallies.” He credits his team to be a huge source of support as well. “They believe in me, and they drive me to be a better swimmer. I look up to my

Another thing that he’s always wanted? To break a record—and he did just that, albeit accidentally. He recalls, “Before NCAA, I had a really bad performance on a major summer competition, so breaking the record was a real ego boost for me, showing me that there was room for more improvement. I really had no intention to break the record. All I wanted to do was swim fast, and I didn’t know I could go faster. I was really nervous back then; all I was just thinking was ‘remember the training’. I did prepare for the event, and I kept saying to myself, ‘Just do your best’. When the event started, my mind went blank and my body went into full-on race mode.” This year, he’s looking into at least getting a medal, adding, “maybe Rookie of the Year award, or better yet, the MVP award!”

would think that someday, I would want to be like her,” Misay adds.

The road to being a record holder like her inspiration isn’t an easy one, and one that she trekked by allotting a time for everything. “I sacrifice my free time to train, but if it’s a rest day, rest day talaga,” Misay says. And with all that she’s sacrificed and trained for all the years she’s been swimming, she has much to show for.

“I was able to represent our country in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, became a 5-time MVP in the NCAA swimming championships, and a record breaker. When I touched that wall, I saw that all that my teammates, coaches, and family were clapping—I felt that all my hard work and sacrifices finally paid off.”

Now, having graduated from college, she still enjoys training—some old habits, thankfully good ones, die hard for this swimmer, who has been at it for more than 15 years now. She says, “I swim two to three hours everyday, morning and afternoon, and do strength and conditioning three times a week. Now that I’ve graduated, I’ll apply all that I’ve learned from being a student athlete, and I will treasure all the experience I gained, and all my achievements.”

PHOTO CREDIT TO NICHOLAS CALMA

MARIA ARESA LIPAT 21 YEARS OLD ALUMNI, DE LA SALLE COLLEGE OF ST. BENILDE

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BE SEEN

42nd SEA AGE GROUP SWIMMINGJULYCHAMPIONSHIPS 6-8, 2018 PHOTO CREDITS: ROY CHUA AND HAZEL GARCIA

TRACE COLLEGE, LAGUNA PHILIPPINES

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BE SEEN

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Cassie and Rona wearing ARENA WOMEN’S ONE PIECE FITNESS; Jonathan, Daryl, Christian, Thomas, Russel, Reeve Ted and Manuel wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER.

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HEADING OUT INTO THE NEW SEASON, THESE ATHLETES ARE POISED TO NOT ONLY MAKE A BIG SPLASH, BUT TO MAKE THEIR SCHOOLS PROUD. THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST ALL COME TOGETHER TO COMPETE, AND WE HAVE OUR EYES OUT FOR THESE SWIMMERS.

BY MAITA DE JESUS

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COVER STORY

SAN SEBASTIAN COLLEGE

Thomas wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER and ARENA TRAINING GOGGLES SPIDER

“WHATEVER YOU DO, DO YOUR BEST AND THE RECOGNITION WILL FOLLOW.” When it comes to swimmers who Thom idolizes, he looks no further than some of the country’s swimming legends—Teofilo Yldefenso, to be more specific. Thom says, “He was the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win an Olympic medal, and the only Filipino to win multiple medals. I admire swimmers who represent our country during Olympics and other international swim competitions. They were able to serve and make our country proud with their talents.”

Thom’s heart is in the right place, his Filipino pride as fierce as how he competes. “When I started swimming, I became more sociable and met new friends. I developed a sense of confidence and responsibility as an athlete and

student. I joined first not to win, but to gain experience.

After a series of competitions, I eventually trained more to earn the medals. I used to train to improve my personal time, but now I train to give honor to my school.”

Bringing honor to his Alma Mater is a way for him to give back the scholarship he gained due to his swimming skills. He also credits his school for supporting him through “hiring very brilliant and compassionate coaches”, he says. “My teachers also support me by giving me assignments in advance, to make up for the lost hours in school when I’m in competitions. My family and relatives are also very supportive.”

With the upcoming NCAA season, Thom views it as a dream come true for him. He says, “I consider my greatest achievement as always besting my previous time from my last competition, and eventually winning a medal.

Now, it’s an honor to compete in the prestigious NCCA. As I promised my mentors, I will do my best to give San Sebastian the medals and recognition it deserves.”

RUSSELL OWEN CAMILO C. LA TORRE UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP SYSTEM DALTA

“ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, AND FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS, BECAUSE IT IS BETTER TO TAKE A RISK OF TRYING THAN SACRIFICING YOUR DREAMS FOR NOTHING.” SWIMMERS USUALLY START AT AN EARLY AGE, AND RUSSEL, OR ROC, IS NO EXCEPTION. Starting out at 11 years old, he got into swimming due to his asthma. His family saw in him the potential to take it a step further, and encouraged him to take up competitive swimming. Roc says, “Over the course of my swimming career, I’ve been most proud of my recent win at the Palarong Pambansa held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, where I got a medal in my individual swimming event. What I love about swimming is the competitiveness, because when I hear that a record has been broken, I will work harder to break that record.”

He adds that training has been very hard nowadays, since he’s aiming a time that is very close to a record that he swims. “I have extra training now, such as land training, strength, and conditioning, to further develop myself.”

REEVE ALOJIPAN IGNACIO

Reeve wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER

ARELLANO UNIVERSITY

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“STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR PASSION, BUT DON’T FORGET THE REASON BEHIND BEING IN UNIVERSITY. TIME MANAGEMENT, DEDICATION, AND RIGHT PRIORITIES WILL LEAD YOU TO SUCCESS, AND EVEN GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS.” What started out as a way to manage asthma turned into Reb’s passion. He says, “I started to compete when I was in Grade 2 to represent my Alma Mater, and it continued every year up to now. I am currently a scholar because of swimming.”

A swimming scholarship isn’t given to just anyone, and Reb was able to earn one through hard work, getting better and better in the sport, and a great support system.

He shares, “As an athlete, discipline is very important. I wake up early and go to our swimming venue where we train, and follow what the coach instructs us to do. Being

Beyond his training, support from those closest to athletes is also important. According to Roc, Perpetual has done their best to provide their needs as a team. His family and friends have continued to be very supportive of his swimming.

Roc says, “My family always supports me—morally and spiritually—and they keep on believing that I can go beyond my limits. Teammates and my friends always tell me that I can reach the goals that I want to achieve in my swimming career. The bonding that you have with your teammates and co-swimmers are the best.”

Roc describes his swim team to be composed of “funny and energetic swimmers! We always bond with each other, and our seniors always give us advice, and teach us how to be well-disciplined swimmers in the future.”

And what lies in his future, exactly? If we go by the swimmers he views as his inspiration, who are Michael Phelps and Sun Yang, his future is a bright one. “I also want to become a distance champion swimmer, just like them,” he says.

He credits time management as “a vital ingredient for a student-athlete like me,” he says, “I need to do that to be able to keep everything in harmony, including my studies and swimming career.”

a swimmer is not a piece of cake, because you have to strive hard and be dedicated. It’s the best and yet one of the most difficult sports, because it builds muscular endurance and strength. I also do my own exercise routines, and play basketball once a week. My school also supports us through incentives and through the help of our coaches. My family supports me by bringing me to trainings even when they’re very far, and they cheer for me in every competition. My family and my girlfriend serve as my motivation, because they don’t stop believe and supporting me in my career whenever I’m distracted or out of focus.”

Motivation coupled with Reb’s tenacity and training earned him the best achievement of his swimming career yet—when he competed in the Philippine Swimming League, and was featured as the most outstanding swimmer. “I would still like to beat my own best time,” he shares. He’s looking forward to another year with his team to compete this season. “We uplift those who are distracted and lack motivation. We’re not just a team, we’re a family now.”

Russel wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER

THOMAS RAYMOND V. SANTOS

COVER STORY

Rona wearing ARENA WOMEN’S ONE PIECE FITNESS and ARENA TRAINING GOGGLES

LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY “A TOUGH AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND OUTLOOK, DEVELOPED IN PURSUIT OF REACHING YOUR FULL POTENTIAL, IS A TRUER MARKER OF SUCCESS.” RONNA IS A SELF-PROCLAIMED RISK TAKER. When she started swimming back when she was 11 years old, Ronna learned that she just didn’t swim to compete, but to learn a lot about herself. “My parents always told me to be the hardest worker, and be the one having the most fun. They also always tell me that I won’t always get what I want. So as a young swimmer like myself, I learn how to challenge myself, find proactive strategies, and I constantly improve on myself.”

The path to constant improvement isn’t an easy one, and Ronna knows this firsthand. She has training six times a week for two hours, from 5:30 in the morning til 8:30 in the morning. “We do land work by 11:30 am, and that’s for an hour,” Ronna adds. “I also do walking, lifting weights, and even doing household and personal chores are included in my health and fitness routine. It’s all good—it’s the path to a healthy well being.”

Her school has been most supportive. With her stellar grades in high school and being an honor student, she earned herself a college scholarship. “That’s my greatest achievement,” she says. The support of her school, as well as of her peers and her parents, are tremendously important to her. She says, “My parents’ support is undeniably essential. They play so many roles—motivator, caretaker, helper. I would not be able to cope up with my studies if I fail to get their guidance, as well as guidance from my teachers and peers.”

Much like her other student-athletes, Ronna puts much emphasis on being able to manage her time efficiently, as well as learning how to prioritize. She adds, “The beauty in planning is that it reduces your stress levels, because it makes you feel like you’re in control. Planning also alerts you to when you’re taking on too much.”

As Ronna goes into the new season, she says that having a goal in mind should give you direction and motivation, but aren’t markers of success or failure as a swimmer.

“There is so much more to swimming than the time on the clock,” she says, “Use your goals as a tool to improve daily, and you will leave this sport with the perception of having succeeded.”

DARYL JAMES CONCEPCION MAPUA UNIVERSITY

“JUST CONTINUE BEING DEDICATED IN EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND EVERY TIME YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING, ALWAYS THINK WHY YOU STARTED.” THE MERE SOUND OF SPLASHING INTO THE WATER GIVES DJ A THRILL; the adrenaline rush of diving into the pool—something he feels whenever he does hard sets in training.

Cassie wearing ARENA WOMEN’S ONE PIECE FITNESS, ARENA SILICONE SWIM CAP, and ARENA TRAINING GOGGLES

His love for the sport that he’s been playing since he was 9 years old is evident, although that wasn’t always the case. He says, “I really wanted to play basketball, and I didn’t plan to swim competitively. When my mom told me to try it, I really didn’t enjoy it for a while. But when I quit last year, I missed swimming in competitions, so I went back.” His family was very supportive of his decision to return to competitive swimming. DJ shares that “they respect my decisions, and they helped me instead of being annoyed that I kept changing my mind.” Heading back to the pool, DJ found that there’s a lot of fierce competition out there, especially this coming season. DJ has doubled up in training to prepare

for the upcoming meets. He shares, “We do land training twice a week and swim every night. We also play water polo every Saturday morning. I also do intermittent fasting to get slimmer, because I tend to gain a lot of weight.”

While self motivation is an important factor to do well in swim meets, DJ says that he couldn’t keep on going without the support he gets from his Alma Mater, his family and friends, his teammates, and “the girl who keeps me inspired and motivated to do my best,” he shares. He looks up to swimmers Caeleb Dressel and Chris Paul for inspiration, due to their dedication to the sport, while still managing to have fun.

The balancing act of a student-athlete isn’t one for the weak, and as DJ says, he chalks it up to time management—doing homework before training starts, for example. “The very best in swimming are those who never quit, who are very dedicated to their trainings, and those who sacrifice lots of things and sleep less!” He says.

As DJ goes into the new season after his hiatus, he’s looking into doing his best in his events, and garnering an achievement that he could be proud of. As he heads to the pool, he says that, “I also dedicate my swim to my teacher, who I also consider as my friend, and bigger brother who recently passed away.” With that motivating you, we can expect big things from DJ.

Daryl wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER and ARENA TRAINING GOGGLES

RONALYN V. SANTOS

CARMENROSE E. MATABUENA EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE “WE ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST STUDENTS, THEN ATHLETES—YOUR PASSION SHOULD BE FOR BOTH.” CASSIE HAS BEEN SWIMMING FOR AS LONG AS SHE COULD REMEMBER. Being a sickly child, she was enrolled in summer swimming lessons back when she was five years old. She says, “It was my parents who encouraged me to start swimming competitively. They saw that I enjoy being in the water and that I have the passion to compete.”

A decade in competitive swimming, and Cassie is still at it. “My family’s always present in all my competitions, and has continuously guided me to stay focused and grounded, despite my achievements. They have always reminded me to always thank God and all those who have supported

me in this career.” And she’s had quite a number of achievements too, particularly when she was named Most Outstanding Athlete in the 2011 National MILO Little Olympics, and when she was honored as the Rookie of the Year in the 75th season of the UAAP. Currently a college freshman, Cassie is motivated by the idea of being a successful student athlete. She looks up to US Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky, who Cassie says, “Aside from being a world record holder, she is also a model athlete because of her charity work.” Being a freshie, she looks to the seniors for much needed guidance. “I see that we are a very solid team. They provide us guidance, as well as tips to newbies like me.

But, we are given the opportunity to give our inputs to make the team better.”

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COVER STORY

DAN CHRISTIAN R. LEYBA

COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LETRAN CHRISTIAN WAS MERELY 8 YEARS OLD WHEN HE STARTED SWIMMING, MAKING HIM A SWIMMER FOR MORE THAN HALF OF HIS LIFE. He says, “When I entered in the process of treating my asthma, my coach saw some potential in me. He entered me in our district meet, and the results were quite fascinating. That was my first competition, and I couldn’t forget that. It made me realized the beauty of the sport that I was into.

What I love most about swimming is that it challenges me to go beyond my limits. Once you step up the blocks and you dive into the water, it’s all on you. Everything is in your control.”

Since he moved to Manila, he has changed his routines up, saying that it’s become more complex and difficult.

“Our coach gave us intervals that I barely accomplish, but it was all worth it after we see the results of our swim,” Christian says.

Beyond the right diet and exercise to keep him performing at his best, he credits the support of his family and his school for continuously motivating him.

“If it wasn’t for Letran, my dream to pursue a career in swimming would have ended prematurely. Their warm welcome and support is overwhelming. My family’s been supportive since day 1. They cheer their lungs out before I jump off the blocks until I touch the wall.

My team and I want to make our parents, coaches, and school proud. We want results that will represent the hard work and sacrifices we’ve been through.”

But with the supporters come the naysayers, but Christian says that he uses their hate as fuel to get better. “What motivates me the most to keep on going are my doubters and haters. I think of them whenever I’m feeling down or lazy. An athlete that uses his haters as an outlet to positivity is Conor McGregor, so that’s our common denominator. His passion and determination to the sport is something else.”

Christian is set to be as determined as Conor McGregor, stating that he has his priorities in order. “I balance school and swimming based on the situation,” he shared, “I focus more on swimming and my trainings when the season is near, but when the season is over, I focus on my academics.”

With the new season coming up, Christian is simply looking into bringing his A-game. “So far, the achievement I’m most proud of is competing at the UAAP, and competing soon at the NCAA. I’ve managed to make it to the finals in my events, and brought up some medals in the relays. Regarding this season, I try to set my expectations as low as possible, but in a good way. I’m just going to go with the flow, and see whatever happens in the season.”

TED JACOB R. LAMINTA LA SALLE GREENHILLS

“USE YOUR TIME WISELY AND PRODUCTIVELY.” NEW SCHOOL, NEW SWIM TEAM—the opportunities that opened to Ted in his first year in LSGH are nothing short of a blessing. “Coach Even Grabador helped me get a scholarship, and I am thankful for that. The LSGH family is very supportive to the swimmers,” he shares, “The parents of my teammates spend a lot of time taking care of us, and our coaches also do their best to train us.”

LSGH saw great potential in Ted, giving him a swimming scholarship. But his stint in the water started long before that. He says, “I started with a series of learn to swim programs during the summer when I was in preschool, mainly because of my parents’ goal for me for water survival, and to enjoy during family outings. Eventually, when I was in Grade 3, I started to train daily, and in the summer, I competed in novice competitions. Now I’ve been swimming for around six years.”

There was another sport that was crucial to his success in swimming, one that Ted credits as enhancing his competitive spirit for the better. He says, “I think growing up playing car

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racing affected my competitiveness, because you need to upgrade your car so that you can beat other players and go to the next level. I enjoy competitions, even if I sometimes don’t win, because what competitive swimming has taught me is to know my own strengths and weaknesses.”

Beyond the competitions, what he loves most about the sport is the people, which has made his transition perhaps to a new school a tad bit easier. He says, “It’s the friends that you meet along the way, because the friends you meet in my sport treat you like family. I also value my relationship with my coaches, and I look up to them.”

His family has also been a big help in his career—he even trains with his sister daily. “My family has been a great encouragement for me. Our parents patiently bring my sister and me to training. During the 42nd Sea Age competition, my relatives came to watch and cheer for me. Them being there made me feel happy and inspired to do my best.”

Being the new kid on the block, Ted is taking his time to adjust to his new school. He says, “Currently, I am adjusting to the academic requirements of my new school, so I really spend time studying even after training. This season, I will do my best to win for my school in NCAA.” We’re looking forward to what TJ has in store for this season!

Christian wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER, ARENA TRAINING GOGGLES FALCON and ARENA SILICONE SWIM CAP

Christian wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER, ARENA TRAINING GOGGLES FALCON and ARENA SILICONE SWIM CAP

“KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES. FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST AT THE MOMENT.”

COVER STORY

EARL JONATHAN G. DUBLAS SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY

“IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, YOU WILL FIND TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT TAKES TALENT TO GET TO THE TOP, BUT IT TAKES DISCIPLINE TO STAY THERE.”

At first, EJ was afraid to cross the pool, but it was his coach that made him go the distance. He shares, “He reminded me every single day that there is nothing to be worried about, and that it’s worth giving a try. A few years later, after having gathered experience and some motivation, I decided to train harder and participate in different swimming meets.”

Throughout the years that EJ’s been in the pool—a decade, to be exact—he has learned that discipline is key when it comes to being a good swimmer. “I love how swimming teaches you how to discipline yourself in managing your time and schedule. It helped me a lot in deciding for myself in focusing on what should be prioritized.”

He adds that it’s also the chance to represent those that he loves that motivates him to become a good swimmer.

“It gives you the opportunity to represent your family, your school, and your hometown,” EJ says.

But being in tiptop shape for the competitions ahead comes with tremendous sacrifices, such as waking up before the break of dawn to train. EJ shares, “Since classes have already started, training is from 4 in the morning til 6:30 in the morning. Being a college student now, it’s quite harder to find

EJ couldn’t have reached greater heights in his career without the love and support from his family. He says, “For behind every athlete, is a loving and supportive family. They were always there. They made sure that I get everything I need, regardless of it being inside or outside the pool. They supported me in every decision I made. They shared the happiness with me it times of victory, and they also shared the sorrow in times of defeat. Win or lose, they were there. When I had problems, they considered it their own. When I had difficulties with the sport, they inspired to never stop trying. Believe me if I say, they never missed a single competition ever. Their support propelled me to the swimmer I am today.”

The swimmer that he is today has achieved so much—he got a gold medal and two bronze medals from the recent Palarong Pambansa held in Vigan. He says, “It was the highlight of my high school career, because that competition was the epitome of what I trained for my whole high school.”

As he moves forward in his career in college, he loves the team that he’s with. “The team is like a family to me. Even though I’m a newcomer, I feel this sense of belongingness coming from them. They consider me as their own, and they help me with my struggles and adversities. When I’m having a hard time in training, they talk to me on how can I do things better. They make sure that I set my goals properly, and that I could perform at my best in every game.

I would like to thank the coaches of San Beda, namely Coach Don Roxas, Coach Genesis Mendoza, Coach JV Aniñon and Coach Joseph Sanone. Even though I’m away from my own family, the team is always there to act like one.”

MANUEL VICTOR PEREZ

JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY

“DO NOT JUST RELY ON YOUR STRENGTH. KNOW THAT THERE IS A HIGHER POWER WHO CAN GIVE YOU MORE THAN WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF. PRAY.”

saying, “Time management is the biggest factor, so I do my homework and complete the requirements ahead of the deadline if there is a swim meet.”

WHAT USED TO BE A SICKLY CHILD, MAVIC WAS ADVISED TO TAKE UP SWIMMING, AND WHEN THE CURE TURNED OUT TO BE A PASSION, MAVIC WAS HOOKED. “I used to just go because my parents forced me to, however after a while, I realized that I am good at it, and began enjoying it not just as a sport, but as a hobby as well. I love that despite it being routinary, with the trainings and all, every competition is different,” he shares, “you will be surprised at how far you can stretch yourself, and it makes me feel good. Swimming teaches me to be more flexible, and to trust that the hardship is towards a common good for me and the team.” Speaking of the team, him and the rest of the JRU swim team are revving up for NCAA. “We are ready to fulfill our legacy and make a name for ourselves in the league.”

What he does must be working, because even as a student, he was able to win the MVP award last year in the NCAA, and he qualified for his first and last Palarong Pambansa. “I got four gold medals and bronze medal. My goal this season is to lead the Men’s Division to our best spot in the NCAA, and to let the other teams know that this year will be the culmination of our long process,” he adds.

The pressure that comes with doing well against the best in the different schools makes training all the more difficult, but it’s something that Mavic takes in stride. “My family are the only people that I could rely on, and the ones who supported me through hard times in my swimming career. They, and my close friends supported me to keep on going in my swimming career.” he shares. “My school also supported me by giving me a full scholarship, with good benefits.” He takes his scholarship seriously,

Beyond the tremendous support he gets, he has tremendous faith and trust in the one above, and is inspired by NBA star Stephen Curry because of it. “He is my inspiration because he is a Christian athlete, and he uses his platform to glorify our God.” Mavic’s faith is palpable, and is perhaps one of his secrets to success. He says, “Sports is about obedience. Learn to obey the coach and the process.

You may think you have trained enough, but you have to know others are capable of seeing the bigger perspective. Have fun and love what you do, because if you love it, you can give more and won’t get saturated doing it over and over again. And always pray—do not just rely on your strength. Know that there is a Higher Power who can give you more than what you are capable of.”

Manuel wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER

Jonathan wearing ARENA MEN’S JAMMER

THE POSITIVE INFLUENCE OF EJ’S OLDER BROTHER HAS ON HIM IS PALPABLE, AND EJ VIEWS HIM AS THE REASON WHY HE GOT HIS START IN SWIMMING. He shares, “It all started when I was four years old. My older brother was a swimmer, and I was always exposed to swimming workouts. I witnessed that swimming is somehow fun, and later saw myself at the poolside, wanting to jump in.

Luckily, after opening the idea to my family, there were happy about it, and then decided to support me in my chosen playing field.”

time for training, so extra effort is needed in waking up. Our team has body conditioning workouts several times a week, and we need to make sure that we live healthy and have the proper amount of rest.” The support that he receives from his school is something that EJ doesn’t take for granted, saying, “The institution has supported me in every way possible.

From giving us the chance to maximize the use of the school’s facilities, to giving me highly adjusted schedules that would correspond to my training schedule. But the most meaningful thing the school has given me, is having been taught on how to value and live by the real purpose of being gifted with a talent.

That we do all things for the greater glory of God.”

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FEATURE • NCAA TEAMS

meet the swim teams complete line-up of the competing swim teams this season 94

EAC

MITC

EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE

MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

“Improve our current position and be on the winning circle again.”

“To exceed expectations by giving our best (times/performance). Enjoy the NCAA meet as a family, and bring pride to the Mapuan pride”

COACH MEN’S TEAM: Dale Evangelista COACH WOMEN’S TEAM: Czarina Liberato TEAM CAPTAIN : Kim Villamor MEN’S TEAM: Mico Anota, David Ebrei Gabato, Sean Patrick Geronimo,Mark Owen Camilo Latorre, Anthony James Lozano, Kim Patrick Soriano, Kim Villamor, Ryan Carl Alvarado, George Emel Comparativo, Edric Robinson Reyes, Kent Reignhold Pascual, Alchris Jhon Uba

COLLEGE MEN’S TEAM: Sean Malachi V. Enero, Paul Joshua M. Malabanan, Nicol Andre T. Cedro, John Kenneth A. Mar, Vanne Zendrix Yumol, Lester C. Orejas, Richardson Navo, Roberto Joaquin Frias, Juan Carlos Miguel Estrella

WOMEN’S TEAM: Alic Deniel Dela Cruz, Samantha Louise Evangelista, Eriloise Marie Lukang, Carmenrose Matabuena, Angelica Medrano, Caycee Joy Mendoza, Elisa Orejas, Almira Punzalan, Elijah Yee,

COLLEGE WOMEN’S TEAM: Chile Marie S. Santiago and Catherine Santillan

How does your team bond before the start of the season? We bond not only as a team but as a family. We treat our teammates like our siblings and our coaches as parents.We train hard, we fairly share the workload of the team and we have each others back

What do you think is your team’s edge compared to others? Discipline is the key. Everybody in the team prioritize school work over everything else, we all make sure that we are fully committed to be there during trainings, heart and mind.

Which aspect of your team’s performance did you improve for Season 93?

We make sure that we have a proper training.

We stayed focus and face unexpected circumstances

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HEAD COACH : Ricardo Dilapdilap ASSISTANT COACH: Bea Felise Garrido TEAM CAPTAIN: Sean Malachi Enero

JUNIORS TEAM: John Mar Y. Armocilla, Micharl Anakin T. Lirio, Kyle Louise Dy, Vanz Gabriel M. Goh, Charles Seth Laurance Tamayo, Daryl James Concepcion

How did you prepare for this season?

We commit to the training hours set. We make sure that we push each other to the limits during trainings. No pain, no glory as they say. We do have individual goals for this season as the swimmers have their own fortes but the mindset is to achieve this individual goal for the team’s greater good.

SSC SAN SEBASTIAN COLLEGE “Never give up and dominate this day. Ultimate goal is to be better than yesterday.”

HEAD COACH: Fernando Yumul ASSISTANT COACH: Mico Abina TEAM CAPTAINS: King Andrie I Sanchez (Juniors) Carl William Lagundino (Seniors) SENIORS: Mhel Stephen Sanchez, Carl William Lagundino, Francis Lagmay, Deinen Ryio Flores, Margeux Kristen Gonzaga, Krizzia Rei Aldovino JUNIORS : Judiel Joseph Buna, Jamil Creado, Marc Louise Untalan, King Andrie I Sanchez, Benyrict Urquico,Kyle Real, Mark Anthony Bation, Joseph Liance Corpuz, Thomad Raymond Santos, Phil Austin Hernandez, Francis Jake Manlapit, Ernesto Traje III What do you think is your team’s edge compared to others? The edge that we have that the other team Doesn’t have is “God” in everything we do we put God first and we know that this season that God will be on our side and he will help us to achieve our goal and not only God will be on our side but also our family and friends.

How did you prepare for this season?

We had intense training everyday sometimes we train twice a day just to prepare for this season and we also disciplined our self not to eat unhealthy foods at above all to atleast have enough sleep and rest to prepare for our trainings everyday.

FEATURE • NCAA TEAMS

AU ARELLANO UNIVERSITY

JRU JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY “To improve our team standing in the forthcoming 94 NCAA Season and for our swimmers to be at their best in this season.”

HEAD COACH: Chito Rivera ASSISTANT COACH: JayR Ramos TEAM MANAGER: Paul Supan TEAM CAPTAIN: Ladiemar Mangumpit COLLEGE MEN’S TEAM: Manuel Victor Perez,

Ladiemar Mangumpit, Jonel Ventura, Justine Pabualan, Gerald Manuel, Jomartin Plaza, Michael Angelo Cardel, Carlo Dominic Santos,Julius Caesar Zamora COLLEGE WOMEN’S TEAM: Mary Christine

Llorente and Ma. Montessa Carla Dela Cruz JUNIORS TEAM: Charles Lawrenz Licardo,

Kyle Benedict Lui, Austin John Hampac, Job Enrile, Joaquin Victor Vincoy, Jaryl Morales, Jahmaseiah Gay, Manuel Jose Perez, Andey Octavio, Leonardo Jevon Alaan, Gabrielle Villaran, Christopher Marzel Llorente What do you think is your team’s edge compared to others? We are a team of TALENT, GRIT and TENACITY. We shall KICK and Pull hard in every inch of the course.

We will always be a Team whose strength is drawn from our God Almighty. To God be the GLORY!

“Swim fast to fulfill our goal.”

HEAD COACH: Jocelyn Patana ASSISTANT COACH: Jonathan Rarela TEAM CAPTAINS: Nathaniel Ruste and Ruth Siroy MEN’S TEAM: Danilo Compo Jr., Ernie Denila, Rawi Isiri, Majoel A. Jaapar, Nurimar Kassim, Al-Mhobar Ladjaanagn, Prince Lirio, Joshua Regalado, Nathaniel Ruste WOMEN’S TEAM: Juliah Agan, Apple Grace Enquito, Ma. Elisa Estrecho, Ruth Siroy, Queenie Tanginan, JUNIOR’S TEAM: Adrian S. Azul, John Michael Bulalacao, Joshua O. Canete, Kian O. Canete, Vladimir Ela, John Rafhael Enriquez, Justin Daniel Junio, Reeve Thirdy A. Ignacio, Reyl S. Malbas, Jeremy Mendoza, Jericho O. Tan, Ebner R. Tanasak What activities did you have to strengthen your teamwork? Established leadership, relationship aming coaching staff and swimmers.Foster teamwork and discipline among the team.

What do you think is your team’s edge compared to others? Doing all the best to have a good swim this coming conpetition.

LPU LYCEUM UNIVERSITY “The goal of the team is be a model in solid academics and solid athletic program and improve from last years ranking since the team also revamped and recruited alot of swimmers, for mens 24 male (15 will see in Season 94) and womens 11 (6 will see action in Season 94)” HEAD COACH: John Kinsley C. Solita ASSISTANT COACH: Benjamin Cortez TEAM CAPTAINS: Gerom N. Bajado and Ronalyn Santos MEN’S TEAM: Gerom Bajado, Lastimosa, Russel Thompson, Marverick Belarmino, Polan Consulta, Rhussel Rynel Salazar, Jan Agustin Talavera, Kevin Santos, Ian Paolo Escosa, Reeve Eivan Mateo Castro, Mark Arvin Guintu, Zinder Isaac Perez, Lemuel Xavier Dilapdilap, Timothy Kyle Borja, Steve Omaguing, Jose Ylagan WOMEN’S TEAM: Heaven Tolentino, Rona Santos, Shaina Rose Ico, Eunice Gail Mendoza, Andrea Manapat, Jagiel Liwanag What do you think is your team’s edge compared to others? It would be the team spirit of never say die even in training.

How did you prepare for this season?

We just came in June 2018 and the coaches position was vacant, preparation and recruitment was still in infancy so progress maybe tough but preparation was hard and precise hopefully they can be well prepared by Sept.

How did you prepare for this season?

We doubled our effort and pushed ourselves to the limits.

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FEATURE • NCAA TEAMS

UPHSD UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP SYSTEM DALTA “We Are aiming for a higher rank compare to our Team Standing last season and of course Medals for individual events.”

HEAD COACH : James Guinto ASSISTANT COACH: Wilven Hussin TEAM MANAGER: Patrick Jose Moran TEAM CAPTAIN : JB Suson MEN’S TEAM: Gempol Loriaga, Mark R. Sadera, Oliver S. Aroma Jr., John Carlo V. Reyes, Joshua P. Batersal,Patrick John B. Reyes, Roberto G. Rebite Jr., Judy Boy M. Suson, Kyle Benedict M. Hizon, Keirone Mac E. Koizumi, Lanz Adrian T. Pontevedra WOMEN’S TEAM: Dailyn Mae M. Galabin, Mica Jane M. Rago, Ericka Lie F. Pascual, Marie Irene Angelica B. Romero, Rakhyla Morie S. Beberino, Quenie Grace A. Medalla, Andrea Mari J. Punay JUNIORS TEAM: Russell Owen Camilo C. La Torre, Bebe Boy P. Panquico, Eathan Rae G. Dalde, Vince Andrie M. Tan, Paolo Mckoi D. Borja, James Patrick P. Reyes, JC Joel V. Manaloto, Oscar George R. Rutia, Jerico L. Salas, Jie Mark F. Emol, Moriah P. Mallo, Jerico L. Salas, Zalzon T. Espino III What do you think is your team’s edge compared to others?

The Undying positive-Spirit of the Team in achieving our desired goals for this season and That is to Improve our Team standing, And Most Importantly we always seek for Guidance and Put Everything in the Hands of our Almighty GOD. How did you prepare for this season?

Aside from Swim Trainings we have a land trainings for strengthening and conditioning, We also joined in some invitational Swimming Competitions to prepare ourselves and our Team for this Upcoming season.

LSGH/CSB LSGH: “Our goal is to redeem the Championship title” CSB:” Our goal is to improve our best times and beat the points from last year” HEAD COACH: Evan Grabador ASSISTANT COACH: Teohdy Gaviño and James Paul Hipolito TEAM MANAGER: Rhoda Cruz TEAM CAPTAIN: Christopher Wong (Mens), Christine Mendoza (Womens), Alejandro Bonifacio Aleta (Juniors) JUNIORS TEAM: Vaughn Andre Aquino, Sean Gabriel Cruz, Lance

Rafael Cruz, Julian Carl De Borja, Andrei Nicolas De Luna, Deiondre Miguel Forlales, Ted Jacob Laminta, Antoine Mel Mendoza, Josemaria Roldan, Ryan Emmanuel Suarez, Jalil Sephraim Taguinod, Jaren Rylie Tan

COLLEGE TEAM: Justine Abastillas, Veronica Cruz, Kyle Cuenca,

Maurize Dabi, Gianna Data, Teodoro Diaz, Jose Laviña, Jaymee Ortega, Shaquille Pido, Aziz Pukunum, Kim Ramos, Ivonne Regino, Paulo Rioflorido, Liam Tangan, Franco Teves, Suzy Uy What do you think is your team’s edge compared to others?

Just like all teams, we are very competitive. But what gives us the edge is the competitive drive we have to try and beat both our competitors and teammates. Competing with our teammates and developing friendly rivalries with them helps us to improve greatly and continue to strive to achieve greatness How did you prepare for this season?

We prepared for this season just how we usually prepared for the past seasons. Our training’s from Monday to Saturday at 5:00 am til 7:30 am then we proceed to our Strength and Conditioning Training for 2 hours. Our coaches helped us gain strength physically, mentally and emotionally.

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FEATURE • NCAA TEAMS

CSJL

SBC

COLEGIO DE SANJUAN DE LETRAN

SAN BEDA COLLEGE

“ To focus in achieving success and stable management team” HEAD COACH: Rommel Ayie Alcantara TEAM CAPTAIN: Nathaniel Jay A. Ramos, Julian Villacorta and Jean Godric Caringal MEN’S TEAM: Roque De Asis, John Christopher Dela Peña, Manuel Mandanas, Elton John Mayores, Kevin Omaguing, Juan Emmanuel Samudio, Aaron John Sollestre, Gian Victorio Virray, Kennedy Zenarsa

WOMEN’S TEAM: Carmelites Cortez, Erika Maureen Flamiano, Joy Denise Manese, Avia Sahara Zunic JUNIORS TEAM: Joaquin Bayani, Lawrence Calixto, Dan Leyba, John Carlo Carmona, Kyle Castro, Stephen De Jesus, Rhodisper Dimapilis, Jay Smith Escuadra, Richard Steven Facundo, Jhonryll Garcia, Ishey Cuison, Jian Manalo, Russel Mercado, Reigzen Mercado, Jumary Panquico, Eirik Rivera, Clark Rodriguez, Christian Kyle Santos, Renz Kenneth Santos, Miel Ugaban, Lance Yumang, Ashton Clyde Jose How does your team bond before the start of the season?

We do everything together from stretching, swim, land training, and also eating, we also enjoy having each other’s company around us.

Lastly we motivate our teammates to get the best results as possible How did you prepare for this season?

Train and train, over and over again until we reach our goal. But not only on the physical side but also mentally, the swimmers mentality that we uptake ourselves on.

“To improve our performance last year and to defend our championship. “

HEAD COACH: Gavino T. Roxas Jr. ASSISTANT COACH/ES: Genesis P. Mendoza, John Vinmar P. Aniñon and Joseph Lance Sanone TEAM MANAGER: James S. Sy TEAM CAPTAINS: (Men’s) Chris Alcher R. Calderon (Women’s): Cherryline B. Hortelano & (Juniors’): Franco Eduardo Garcia MEN’S TEAM: Joshua J. Junsay, Joshua B. Casino, Robi Mangilinan, Rogelio Frias, Luis Vicente Evangelista, Elson Jake Rodriguez, John Henry Gurango, Jason Villaruz, John Kenneth Dimaculangan, Gabriel Velasco, Earl Jonathan Dublas, Glenn Adrian Arsula, Jasper Casino, Jose Isaiah Tungul, Edgar Hin Louise Chee, Patrick Ryan Ramiento, Zacharias Cruz WOMEN’S TEAM: Gwen Brynne Prejula, Katrina Mae Garcia, Elizabeth Anne Belarmino, River Gail Salonga, Christianne Andrea Jerez, Chloe Ingrid Medina, Febbie Mae Porras, Helena Raine Teope, Joanah Andrea Alquizar, Larianne Marijho Muyalde, Angel Rose Bayan, Celine Ann Delotavo, Lyh Ann Navarro, Gwyneth Amber Cawaling, Sophia Jescel Bulanhagui, Kim Karen Ambong, Justine Ciudadano, Lainette Iglesias, Mavic Villa Del Rey, Regine Plomeda JUNIORS TEAM: Josiah Lozano, Lean Dagum, Fritz Rodriguez, Nathan Gonzales, Daveangelo Tiquia, Jophet Suarez, Vondee Azucena, Aaron Garcia, John Casino, Rb Tierra, Gian De Guzman, Keenan Agquiz, Franco Santos, John David Villaruz, Kent Catabay, Gian Gregorio

What do you think is your team’s edge compared to others?

I think we train as one family and that makes it more fun and thus making everyone feel at ease.

How did you prepare for this season?

We did morning and afternoon trainings during the summer break and conditioning exercises.

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ALEXA NICOLE MOLINOS POLICARPIO

10 years old

Team: Siena College Taytay Swimming Team Birthday: August 10, 2008 Favorite Event: Breaststroke What I want to be when i grow up?

I want to be a Flight Attendant Person I look up to: My Mommy and Dadddy Hobbies: Swimming and playing.

What I love most about swimming?

It makes my family proud because of my achievements.

PRINCESS JASMINE P. MOELTER

ETHAN ADRIEL ALEJANDRINO

Joachim PatiĂąo

Team: Gran Villa Swimming Team Birthday: December 14, 2007 Favorite Event: Backstroke and freestyle.

What do I want to be when I grow up: I want to be a flight stewardes and olympic swimmer someday.

Person I look up to: My Mom and Dad Hobbies: Swimming, dancing and singing.

What I love most about swimming: Competing in different places and meeting new friends

Team: Fernandino Armada Swim Team Birthday : January 4, 2010 Favorite event : Freestyle and backstroke.

What I want when i grow up: I want to be a pilot.

Person I look up to: Micheal Phelps Hobbies: Swimming and biking.

What I love most about swimming: Swimming taught me to be a disciplined athlete and student. It also makes me fit and healthy.

Team: Unified Homeschoolers Philippines Birthday: April 22, 2009 Favorite event: Freestyle and Breaststroke What I want when I grow up: To be an Oncologist so i can help people with cancer Person I look up to: Micheal Phelps because he is a great swimmer Hobbies: Singing, swimming and playing video games.

What I love most about swimming: It

10 years old

WANT TO BE SEEN IN SWIM KIDS?

8 years old

7 years old

helps me loose my fats and keep fit.

If you’re a swimmer 10 years old and below, email your answers to the above questions together with your photo to swim.mag.ph@gmail.com

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www.dermplus.com.ph

facebook.com/arenaphilippines

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