Swimming coach predicts solid performance of Cebuano tankers in upcoming nat’l meets

CEBU City tankers are sure to win gold medals in the upcoming national competitions.

This was the bold prediction made yesterday by Team Cebu City swimming coach Rolando Alvarez during the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP)-Cebu Chapter forum held at Baseline Restaurant.

Alvarez was accompanied by his 2013 Maasin City Batang Pinoy regional eliminations gold medalists and their parents in the forum hosted by Robert “Bobby Knight” Inoferio.

Team Cebu City won the Batang Pinoy regionals overall title in swimming with 26 golds, 17 silvers and 5 bronze medals and Alvarez, who is also the mentor of the Cebu Blue Marlins swimming club, predicted a repeat of their performance in the BP National Finals this Nov. 19 in Bacolod City and in the national finals of the 5th Milo Little Olympics on Oct. 25 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

“It wouldn’t be an easy task but I can guarantee you nga maka place gyud ang atong team sa mga national finals sa Batang Pinoy and sa Milo Little Olympics,” Alvarez said. “Sigurado jud ko nga maka produce ta ug gold medals, ang di lang nako mahibaw-an is kung pila ato madaug.”

Winning golds for Cebu City in Leyte were 13-year-old Carine Mae Indaya who won 7 gold medals, Justine Garido who took home 6 golds and 1 silver, Michael Kong who bagged 6 golds and a silver, Madelin Capacio, who snared four gilts and a silver, Mika Marie dela Cerna who hauled 4 golds, two silvers and a bronze and Raphael Dakal-dakal, who won a gold, 4 silvers and 2 bronzes.

When asked who will be Cebu City’s greatest rival in the nationals, Alvarez picked the National Capital Region because of its big swimming community. NCR, he said, also pirates swimmers with attractive offers. /Correspondent JADE S. VIOLETA