To provide swimmers an international-level competition environment, the Visayas leg of the FINIS Philippines National Long Course Series kicked off at the Iloilo Sports Complex swimming pool in La Paz, Iloilo City.

More than 200 swimmers from 25 teams participated in the event which aims to discover more promising young swimmers from the series of competitive tournaments.

FINIS Managing Director and tournament organizer Vince Garcia thanked all the players because despite the enormous effect of Typhoon Paeng in the region, a huge number of teams have supported the event.

“Their resiliency is very commendable and we, in FINIS, is doing our best to provide them an international-level competition environment. This is an off-shoot to the previous short course series we have organized, so we expect the best of the Visayas to show up to form a competitive squad in the National Finals,” he added.

The weekend tournament saw powerhouse teams in Visayas – Bacolod-based John B. Lacson Swim Team; Megakraken, Aklan; Iloilo Tigershark; Capiz Turboshark; Binarayan Tadpole Swimming Club; Bohol Splashers; Buddy Swim Team; Capiz Eaglerays; Iloilo Starfish; JBLFMU Dolphin, Salabite Swim Sting, Silay Orca, Sta. Fe Crocs and University of San Carlos.

After the Visayas leg, the tournament will go to Zamboanga for the Mindanao leg slated Nov. 12 and 13 at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex swimming pool. The Luzon leg will follow be on Nov. 26-27 at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac, which will be the same venue for the National Finals slated Dec. 17 and 18.

Making it more exciting and competitive, Garcia said special prizes await the Top 3 teams and Most Outstanding Swimmers in the National Finals.

“The National Finals will be more exciting because those who won their respective events in the three legs will compete so we will know where the best swimmers will be coming from,” he said.

Aside from swimming, FINIS is also helping and supporting kids’ triathlon with a similar championship series, duathlon, open water swimming and coaches’ education program.

Garcia also thanked and congratulated those who attended the FINIS-American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Swim Coaching Certification Clinics from Oct. 27 to 31 at the Acropolis Green Sports Complex Clubhouse in Quezon City.IMT Sports