BiFin swimming needs exposure, support

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer and Batangas 1st District Rep.Eric Buhain said the showing of the National BiFin Swimming Team in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia proved it deserves support from both the private and public sector to further boosts its development program particularly in the grassroots level.

Competing for the first time in the regional meet, the eight members of the Espinelli Trading-backed national team all made it to the finals in their respective events with Palarong Pambansa swimming champion Alexi Cabayaran winning silver medal in the 200 women bifin breaststroke.

“Raising awareness through regular activities and to encourage all swimming clubs, groups, and organizers to include bifin in their program of events could be a big help for the sports to grow. We have a good future in bifin, and the recent campaign of our team in Cambodia proved that. Kahit maiksi lang ang naging preparation may contribution sila sa delegation,” said the two-time Olympian and currently president of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA) after meeting the Nationals upon their arrival from Cambodia Monday morning.

“Itong pagkapanalo ni Alexi (Cabayaran) ng silver is big for the sport. Hopefully, ma-encourage niya ang iba na subukan ang BiFin swimming. Like classical, there are many medals at stake here. Isipin natin sa Cambodia 27 yung events, eh kung nakapaghanda tayo ng matagal mas marami tayong naipadalang athletes, baka mas maraming medalya tayong naiuwi,” Buhain pointed out.

The 15-year-old Cabayaran from Silay City in Negros Occidental was among the hundred young swimmers who participated in the Visayas tryouts organized by COPA last February in Bacolod City. Aside from the Trinity Christian School swimmer, the other members of the team were Renz Santos, Janine de La Paz, Raymund Paloma, Raina Leyran, Kristoff David, Ishaelle Villa and Troy Castor.