ASAP scores Palaro swim organizers, officials

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquatic Sports Association yesterday expressed concern over the decision of the Palaro swimming organizers to award the most outstanding athlete award in the male high school division to Fajad Alkhadi of Calabarzon instead of to Gian Berino of NCR.

Berino won in the 200m freestyle over Fajad Friday to finish with 2-3-0 gold-silver-bronze medals, while Fajad took the bronze in the event and finished with a 2-0-3 medal tally. Under FINA rules which the organizers applied, a gold is worth 7 points, silver 5 points and bronze 4 points, giving Berino 29 points and Fajad 26. Fajad got a bonus of two points for setting a record in the 800m freestyle.

Alkhadi is a member of the Philipine Amateur Swimming Association of the Philippines, now known as the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines, whose officials are running the Palaro swimming compeititions.

Berino is a son of Suzie Ong, an official of the Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines, whose participation in the meet was blocked by PASA, citing FINA rules that members are not allowed to have “unauthorized relations with non-members.”

The ASAP also voiced objection over the the exclusion of an ASAP member, Hans Ramos, from the finals of the 50m breastroke , Thursday even as he finished second in the heats. The ASAP said he was scratched from the Final 8 in favor of the third placer, giving no reason other than the average of the clockings of the swimmers.

“I don’t know what they mean by average. What I know is when your individual time is one of the top 8. you advance to the finals,” said Papa a national swimmer for over a decade.

Papa, coach of Ramos, said she raised the objection with the NCR coach, which had the sole right to file formal complaints, but no action was taken.

Papa said the NCR coach and the organizers are all members of PASA.