PSL 33rd leg up Saturday

Serving as qualifier for a world meet next year, the Philippine Swimming League 33rd leg series will unfold Saturday at Rizal Memorial Swim Complex.

Over 500 swimmers in the age group competitions have signed up with UAAP champion Claire Adorna and Palarong Pambansa multiple gold medalist Gian Berino of Diliman Preparatory School leading the participants. Marc Bryan Dula, a five-year-old find from Samar, will also see action.

Participants in the collegiate ranks will vie for the 62 slots available for the Philippines in the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, Russia, in July.

Also known as the 3rd Nikki Coseteng Swimming Championship, the PSL is open to all swimmers five to 19 years old.

Coseteng said the competition is open to everyone—swim clubs, teams and schools—with no membership requirement.

“This is the only way we can discover more talented swimmers in the country. It’s about time we win medals in the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games, and produce more swimmers in the Olympics,” said Coseteng.

PSL president Susan Papa said the country has been relying on mandatory slots—one male and female—in the Olympics for a long time after Filipino swimmers failed to qualify.