SINGAPORE—Olympian Jessie Khing Lacuna, Axel Toni Ngui and Rosalee Mira Sta. Ana will be the among the first Filipino swimmers who will hunt for gold medals today in the Southeast Asian Games at OCBC Aquatics Center.
The Philippines, hoping to improve its measly four-bronze production two years ago in Burma (Myanmar), is fielding 12 young tankers this time, most of them coming from the grassroots.
Head coach Archimedes Lim said the team is young and upbeat about winning medals in the event that is expected to be controlled by host Singapore.
The 21-year-old Lacuna, a native of Pulilan, Bulacan, and reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player for Ateneo, will compete in the men’s 200-meter freestyle, the first of the six events he is entered.
Ngui, also 21, will join him in the event, hoping to crash through the tough competitions.
An outstanding athlete in the grassroots competitions like Palarong Pambansa, Ngui will also take part in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 50-m backstroke.
Eighteen-year-old Rosalee Mira Sta. Ana will also debut in the Day 1 of competitions, seeing action in the women’s 800m freestyle. She is also entered in 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle.
Jose Joaquin Gonzales will see action in men’s 100m backstroke which is already a final event because of few entries.