DPS tankers lead cast in PSL All-Star reg'l meet

MANILA, Philippines - Former Palarong Pambansa multiple gold medalist Gian Berino and a five-year-old swimmer are the competitors to watch in the 30th leg of the Philippine Swimming League series set Sept. 30 at the Rizal Memorial swimming pool.

Berino, who just arrived from a one-year training in the US, and five-year-old Mark Bryan Dula from Samar head the crack varsity team from the Diliman Preparatory School, under former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, in the competition dubbed the 2012 All-Star Regional Swimming Championship endorsed by the Department Education.

The competition format will be for swimmers aged 5, 6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 (elementary) 13-14, 15-16 (high school) and 17-28 (college).

Swimmers from Baguio, Bicol, Batangas, Bulacan, Quezon Province, Pampanga, NCR, Davao City, Cavite, Cebu City, Mindoro and Laguna are competing in the event, which also serves as final tuneup for PSL participants in the forthcoming invitational meet in Bangkok.

The competition starts at 8 a.m. after the warm-up at 6 a.m.

The most outstanding male and female swimmers in each category based on points will receive a trophy, while the top three swimmers in each event will be awarded medals.

A side event is the Freestyle Skins for the top eight finishers of the 400m freestyle event for boys and girls aged 11 and over. The top three finishers will receive cash of P4,000, P2,000 and P1,000.

“We have set up competitions monthly to develop grassroots swimmers into a world-class competitive level. We are getting great swimming results in every competition,” said PSL president Susan Papa.

Highlight of the event is the participation of the regional band from different schools.

Inquiries: Edgardo Galeno (09173979218) and Guia Llaguno (09267204153).