SOME 25 tankers from the elementary and high school in the Summer Capital vowed for a better performance and promised to make up from their so-so showing the upcoming Luzon leg of the Batang Pinoy.
With an early heads start before the competition kicks off in Ilagan, Isabela this August, Coach Laurence Daguio is confident the city will have an improved performance this year.
“We are optimistic the swimming team fielded in Batang Pinoy will make it better this year. The year-long preparations from our athletes can give a surprise against other competing LGU’s this coming August,” Daguio said.
Daguio said the team is inspired to double up their efforts after failing to earn at least a single medal in the Luzon leg and even the national finals of Batang Pinoy.
The coach added with proper training, swimmers from the highland can be at par with other powerhouse neighbors during regional and national competitions.
Daguio added with the proper program, even Cordilleran athletes will be able to maintain a good standing in various competitions held in the country.
“Training is training and if done properly, maraming wonders na makikita even if we know a lot of Cordillerans are seen as lacking in some of the components like height,” Daguio said.
Although most Cordillerans lack the height, Daguio said it does not serve as obstacle but instead are compensated in other ways to ensure the city can still produce high calibre swimmers.
“If they lack in height, we concentrate more on power para yung kulang nila mapunta sa mga bagay which can help them,” Daguio said.
“If we try to monitor, marami ang mga swimmers natin that showed good potential. Talagang nalalamangan lang tayo ng mga lowlanders minsan,” said Daguio adding the lack of natural swimming areas in the Summer Capital also plays a huge factor why many of the locals lack the basic skills compared to lowlanders who are innate to swimming. (Mark Victor Pasagoy)