MANILA, Philippines - Former professional basketball manager Nikki Coseteng yesterday announced plans to help develop top-caliber Filipino swimmers from the grassroots level through a program she will undertake at the Diliman Preparatory School.
Coseteng, former owner/manager of the Gallerie Dominique team in the early years of the PBA, said the program will start on the elementary level and will go all the way to the collegiate level of her school where an elevated swimming pool is now being built.
“I realized swimming facilities are needed for this program, so we are building one to get the program off the launching pad,” she said during the awarding ceremonies of the Mayor Sonny Belmonte Cup age group competitions Saturday at the Amoranto swimming pool on Roces Ave., Quezon City.
The competition, supported by Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte and organized by coaches Emer Matienzo and Beth Mascardo under the umbrella of the Philippine Swimming League, drew over 300 swimmers in the six-under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-over age group levels.
Mayor Belmonte, who made the 50-meter Olympic pool available free to the organizers, was represented by Coseteng in the awards ceremonies.
Coseteng said the school program will be run by the PSL. Although the program will initially focus on Diliman prep school students, Coseteng said she would help promote swimming on a wider scale by organizing local competitions and encouraging participation in international competitions under the PSL.