All eyes on Diamante, Obebe in COPA meet

THE competition resumes this weekend for the final two days of the Congress in Philippine Aquatics Inc. (COPA) Reunion Challenge National Championships at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

All eyes are on Pauline Beatriz Obebe of Aqua Sprint Swimming Club and Nicola Queen Diamante of RSS Dolphins Swim Team, who are both candidates for the Most Outstanding Swimmer (MOS) award.

The 12-year-old Obebe captured eight gold medals in 10 events last week. Diamante, on the other hand, claimed only five mints in the 11-year-old class last week but counting her winnings in the Reunion’s three-leg series, she is considered the frontrunner for the MOS award.

“Mas mataas ang level ng excitement dahil aabangan natin itong sina Obebe at Diamante kung may maidadagdag pa sa mga medalyang napagwagihan nila last week. Pero hindi lang sila ang aabangan natin dahil marami pa ang humahakot din sa ibang dibisyon,” said tournament director Chito Rivera.

Meanwhile, Rivera expressed his gratitude for the decision of COPA founding president Batangas First District Representative Eric Buhain to give back the 50 percent of the entry fee to clubs that have swimmers qualified for the Southeast Asian Age-Group Championship next month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Buhain stressed that the discount is COPA’s financial support to those who qualified for the Malaysian event.

“For example, Team Aqua Surfers has two qualified swimmers for the SEAG age group meet. Team Aqua enters 10 swimmers in COPA’s meet at P3,650 each for a total of P35,500. We give back the P18,250 to be divided equally at P9,125 each,” said Buhain.

The qualified swimmers needed $1,700 each for the Malaysia trip and Buhain promised to seek the help of other individuals and the private sector to lessen the financial burden.