Coseteng heads PSL tankers to Arafura

MANILA, Philippines - Former Sen. Nikki Coseteng will head a lean team of upcoming Philippine Swimming League swimmers going up against 3,000 swimmers from 30 countries in the Arafura Games to be held May 7-11 in Darwin, Australia.

Cebu’s Loren Dale Echavez who clocked a stunning 27.13 seconds in the 50m freestyle in the ninth leg of the PSL Swimming Circuit, will lead PSL swimmers which include Kiefer Piccio, Emmanuel Joshua Lorbes, Pricila Aquino, Antoinette Aquino and Carlo Doragos.

The Philippine Sports Commission, headed by chairman Richie Garcia, and the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation under Cristino Naguiat, have thrown their full support to the swimmers, who are all products of the Diliman Preparatory School’s monthly age group competitions.

The swimmers, accompanied by PSL president and founder Susan Papa and coach Susan Benasa, paid a courtesy call yesterday on Sen. Coseteng and her son, Councilor Julian Coseteng (3rd Dist., Quezon City), who are both supporting the swimmers’ participation in the biennial meet.

“The Arafura Games, which is a very strong competition, will be a big boost for our swimmers and they are ready and excited to compete,” said Coseteng, who is also president and chief executive officer of the DPS, which includes swimming as part of its school curriculum for preparatory, elementary and high school students. “This will also provide our young swimmers with a wonderful experience in competitive swimming.”

“The competition not only develops a young swimmer and exposes him to tough competition at an early age against other nations, but the cultural events that are part of the games will provide a platform for cultural exchange as well,” said Papa. “Swimmers who do good in training look forward to this rare opportunity in their young career.”