Nikki appeals for fair play

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Nikki Coseteng yesterday called on the Philippine Swimming, Inc. (PSI), the NSA recognized by the POC and the world governing body FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation), to open its doors to all Filipino swimmers regardless of club or league affiliation in the spirit of Olympic solidarity.

“Let’s eliminate the operative rule of exclusivity,” said Coseteng, chairman of the Philippine Swimming League (PSL) and president of the Diliman Preparatory School. “We know there is a FINA rule that stipulates affiliation with FINA for a country to compete in a FINA-sanctioned competition. But it doesn’t mean that this exclusivity applies to local swimmers who must affiliate with PSI. Unfortunately, swimmers who compete in PSL events are not allowed to even try out for slots on the Philippine team which the PSI supervises with the POC’s approval. PSI coaches aren’t allowed to work with swimmers who are involved with PSL. This discrimination is a violation of human rights.”

Coseteng said the recent performance of Filipino swimmers in the SEA Games is a cause for concern. Of the 40 gold medals at stake in the sport, the Philippines took none. Singapore bagged 19 golds, Vietnam 10, Malaysia five, Indonesia four and Thailand two. The Philippines hasn’t captured a gold in swimming in the last four SEA Games.

“If you check the UAAP records, you’ll notice that a lot of the times of high school swimmers with PSL background are better than college swimmers with PSI background,” said Coseteng. “We started training swimmers in 2007 and we’ve organized over 125 competitions all over the country – in Aklan, Cagayan de Oro, Zambales, Bataan, everywhere. At Diliman Prep, we invited PSI coaches to work with our swimmers but they were prohibited because we’re not with PSI. We’ve got 2,500 students at Diliman Prep so we recruited Susan Papa as our coach without going through PSI. If we’ve developed a swimmer whom we think can compete at least at the SEA Games level, we’re willing to pay for his or her affiliation with PSI but PSI won’t accept our payment.”

Coseteng said the discrimination went as far as disallowing PSL swimmers to use the Rizal Memorial pool. “We couldn’t set foot at Rizal until PSC chairman Richie Garcia allowed it,” she said. “We used to get travel tax exemptions for our athletes from the PSC but it was stopped because the PSC insisted there had to be prior clearance from the POC and we couldn’t get it since we’re not with PSI. But why should the POC be involved? Fortunately, the PSC under chairman Butch Ramirez has allowed us to re-apply for travel tax exemptions.”

Coseteng said PSI coaches in the UAAP were instructed to disallow their swimmers from competing in the biennial World University Games where the PSL has sent competitors since 2011. “I recall when we were putting up a delegation for the 2013 Universiade, a letter was written by Adamson’s Fr. Max Rendon advising all UAAP schools to desist from sending swimmers,” she said. “We had 12 swimmers from UP going to the Universiade in Kazan, Russia, but because of the letter, only two Claire Adorna and Mico Garchitorena, dared to join us and refused to be bullied. Claire, by the way, went on to win a gold in triathlon at the 2015 SEA Games and a silver this year.”

Coseteng said PSL swimmers like Jasmine Modjeh, Troy Zamora and Jerard Jacinto have earned the right to compete for the Philippines with their times but are blacklisted by PSI. “We haven’t gotten a gold in swimming in the last four SEA Games and PSI still refuses to recognize the achievements of homegrown Filipinos with a chance for a gold,” she said. “Take Jerard Jacinto who’s 16. He’s the fastest backstroker now in the Philippines with a time of 27.33 in 50 meters, 59.06 in 100 meters and 2:09.65 in 200 meters. Why isn’t he in the Philippine lineup for the SEA Age Group competitions in Brunei next month? All his times should give us a gold based on last year’s results.”

Another case is Zamora who at the age of 15, topped Rio Olympic 100-meter butterfly gold medalist Joseph Schooling’s records in five events when he was the same age in the same Singapore competition. For example, in the 100-meter freestyle, Zamora clocked 55.78 to Schooling’s 57.38. Modjeh, a student at Immaculate Heart of Mary College in Paranaque, also broke Schooling’s records at the age of 11 in Singapore last August.  She did 31.52 to Schooling’s 31.73 in 50-meter butterfly and 1:10.49 to Schooling’s 1:11.89 in 100-meter butterfly. Modjeh’s best time in 50-meter butterfly was recently reset to 30.44 and in 100-meter butterfly to 1:09.40.