Swimming targets six golds in SEA Games

Swimming, which stakes the second most number of gold medals in next month’s Southeast Asian Games here, will account for at least six gold medals for the Philippines when the event is held Nov.29-Dec. 4 at Trace College in Los Baños, Laguna.

"I don’t want to come up with a forecast because no one can really say for sure but I hope and pray we can get six or more," said RP swimming chief Mark Joseph. "Don’t forget our divers and water polo players are going for it, too."

Observers feel the six-gold medal projection, which Eric Buhain scooped in 1991, would hardly help the country in its bid for the overall championship in the biennial games since 43 gold medals will be up for grabs in aquatics — 32 in swimming, 10 in diving and one in water polo.

Athletics stakes the most number of golds with 48.

Powerhouse Thailand and 2003 Hanoi SEAG overall champion Vietnam are expected to dispute the bulk of golds in swimming. Singapore is also expected to contend in the sport since it is fielding in former Chinese nationals and the ever-reliable Jocelyn Yeo.

In the last SEA Games in Vietnam, the Philippines won only four gold medals in aquatics, including two in diving. Fil-Ams Miguel Molina and Miguel Mendoza provided the two other victories in the 200-meter and 1,500-m freestyle, respectively.

"I’m happy we have a rejuvenated national squad compared to last year when it was scrambled and disbanded by the past administration," said Joseph, who is expected to come up with the final roster late this week — a mix of youth and veterans that will also include some Fil-Ams.

Lizza Danila leads the cast along with Olympics veterans Jenny Rose Guerrero and Timmy Chua. United States-based Molina, Mendoza, Jacky Pangilinan and JB Walsh are also joining the squad.

Eight more Fil-Ams have also applied for the national team.

"We’re still looking at their past performances," said Joseph.