ASAP branches out to finswim

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines sent swimmers from the Ed Galeno Swim Club to the recent third International Finswimming and Sonny Belmonte Cup at the Amoranto swimming pool as part of its efforts to promote the new sport, now in the calendar of the Southeast Asian Games.

“The swimmers did a great job considering it is the first time they joined the competition,” said ASAP sec-gen Susan Papa. “We thank Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte for initiating this annual project as we want to increase participation in other swimming events like finswimming.”

The Philippines did not have an entry in the 12 finswimming events included in the calendar of the 2003 Vietnam and 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games.

Singapore, Canada and Korea also participated in the competition.

Galeno, member of the ASAP technical committee, has included finswimming in his swimming program at the club bearing his name. The 54-year-old coach himself won two silver medals in the 50m and 100m bi-fin surface event. The Golden Sharks finished second overall.

Meanwhile, the ASAP, in coordination with Emil Amago of the Lipa Mediatrix Swimming Club, will hold the Lipa National Age Group swimming competition at the Lipa Swimming Club on March 20.

The competition is backed by Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos. Participation is open to swimmers aged six to 17 years.

Information and reservation: Susan Papa 09178050885 or Dr. Susan Benasa 09178210885