JUST a day after their successful campaign in the third Leg of the 2013 4th Speedo G-League Long Course at the Lorenzo G. Teves Memorial Aqua Center in Dumaguete City, members of the University of Cebu (UC) swimming team are back in heavy practice in preparation for the coming 2013 Milo Little Olympics National Finals on Nov.29 to Dec.1 in Cebu City.
UC swimming head coach Rolando Alvarez, Jr., who directed the Cebu Blue Marlins (CBM) Swimming Club to a powerful finish in the Dumaguete leg of Speedo’s G-League competition, said he is expecting tough foes in the Milo competition, which is why he isn’t taking any chances.
“Kusog kayo amo makalaban kay apil man gud ang Philippine team ug ang Philippine National Youth team,” said Alvarez, whose Blue Marlins captured 36 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze medals in the Dumaguete event.
When asked of the chances of Team Visayas in the Milo nationals, Alvarez said he thinks that his team is capable of winning medals.
“Maka medal man ta. Maningkamot lang. Underdog jud kaayo mi,” Alvarez said.
Expected to lead Visayas’ swimming squad is Alvarez’s fastest tankers at UC headed by Michael Ichiro Kong and Karen Mae Indaya, who both displayed powerful performances in Dumaguete recently.
Kong has already broken a Milo Visayas Qualifying Leg record in swimming alongside St. John Institute’s Jose Marie Ereneta and University of San Carlos’ Kyle Nemil in the 18th Milo Little Olympics last Aug. 8, 2013 in Cebu City.
Ereneta’s time of 9:48.96, Kong’s 9:55.84 and Nemil’s 10:05.50 shattered the 2011 mark of 10:05.71 set by Keith Ocampo in the Boy’s 800-meter Freestyle event. /Correspondent JADE S. VIOLETA