Ishikawa described the Filipino swimmers’ showing in last year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games "a very bad performance" despite a haul of two gold, six silver and five bronze medals compared to no gold, six silvers and four bronzes when he coached the national team in Kuala Lumpur two years before.
"If you’re a swimming coach, you do a good job if you look at the times of your swimmers, not how many medals they get," he said. "In 2001, we sent eight swimmers to the SEA Games and all swam record times. Of 31 events, we had 20 record times. But in 2003, we sent 13 swimmers and only five swam record times. Of 49 events, we had 11 record times. That’s 65 percent for best times in 2001 compared to 22 percent in 2003."
Ishikawa, 50, was sent by the Japanese government to coach Filipino provincial swimmers in 1997. His contract ended in June 1998. He returned the next year to coach the national swimming team, this time under contract by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Eric Buhain, now PSC chairman, was head coach and Ishikawa his chief assistant at the 1999 and 2001 SEA Games. Ishikawa also coached the four Filipino swimming qualifiers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Ishikawa, a graduate of Nippon Physical Education College in Tokyo and a former bronze medalist in the 200-meter butterfly event in the Japanese Open, made a name for himself by coaching 14-year-old Kyoko Iwasaki to a gold in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He has been a swimming coach for 27 years.
Last May, Ishikawa was terminated as national coach by the PASA. The Japanese coach wrote a letter to PASA asking for an explanation but received no reply. He wondered why the PASA, not the PSC, terminated his services. His contract is good up to Oct. 31 this year.
After the Vietnam Games, five national swimmers rejoined Ishikawa’s training camp. They are Jenny Guerrero, Timmy Chua, Louie Marquez, Heidi Ong and Evan Grabador. Ishikawa said the swimmers undergo training at the rate of nine sessions a week at the PhilSports Arena and Rizal Memorial pools.
"I want to talk to PASA," said Ishikawa. "I have many questions. But I cannot understand why they do not want to talk to me. I have no contact with PASA. It is a big wrong they are doing to sports. Nobody dares to question what PASA decides. Why? They say it is the Filipino style but it is wrong. The style should be changed."
Ishikawa said at the World Championships in Barcelona last year, the PASA sent five swimmers–Liza Danila, Miguel Molina, Juan Carlo Piccio, Chua and Fil-Am J. B. Walsh. He wondered why Guerrero–an Olympian who won a silver and three bronzes at the 2001 SEA Games–was ignored in favor of the US-trained Walsh whose only accomplishment was a silver in an age-group competition.
"Swimming is a time sport," explained Ishikawa. "It is not a team sport. It is not like basketball. Swimming is a simple sport. You just look at the best times. Since I started coaching the national team, I compiled records of the training times of each swimmer. So I can judge how good or how bad are our swimmers. I have data. I think the Philippine team coach now has no basis to say who is good or not."
Philippine team coach Guy Concepcion has reportedly not laid out a comprehensive training program for the national pool. The national swimmers are back to training on their own in various sports clubs.
Because of the gap between Ishikawa and PASA, there is apprehension that the swimmers training under the Japanese coach will not be considered to compete in three coming Olympic qualifiers. So far, only Molina and Miguel Mendoza have qualified for Athens. Marichi Gadiongco, Luica Dacanay and Danila are rumored to be in PASA’s list of qualifying candidates for Athens.
Guerrero, who trains under Ishikawa, wrote Ilagan last Jan. 27 to express her confidence in the coach.
"As a young swimmer, I am confident that under the guidance of coach Ishikawa, I can still bring honor to the country, PASA and myself," said Guerrero, the only locally-trained swimmer to qualify for the Sydney Olympics. "Without being controversial, may I request permission to train with my coach. From now until June, there are a few events where I could qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics. Please do not take away this opportunity from me.
"I think you can understand that it takes years of hard work before an Olympic dream comes true. I have put that effort for the last eight years. All over the world, different athletes do well under different coaches therefore only the request of training under coach Ishikawa should not be denied to me."
Guerrero, 19, was in line for at least a silver in Vietnam last year but two months before the SEA Games, was instructed to leave Ishikawa.
"I checked Jenny’s training times and I was confident she could win a gold or silver in Vietnam," said Ishikawa. "But she was asked to change her stroke. She lost her confidence and morale. She performed poorly."
Guerrero’s father Gavino said before his daughter swam the 100-meter breaststroke in Vietnam, she was admonished by Concepcion. "Naawa ako kay Jenny–iyak siya ng iyak," said Guerrero. "Bakit naman ganoon sila?"
In the 200-meter breaststroke, she was disqualified under unclear circumstances. Her father said national training director Anthony Lozada claimed it was a false start but Concepcion cited a tumbling violation even as Greg Colemenares, the Filipino official assigned to oversee the event, had no comment.
"Jenny was distracted," said the swimmer’s father. "Now, she wants to make up for her poor performance. She’s back training under coach Ishikawa. She wants a chance to qualify for the Olympics."