(The University of the Philippines (UP) Varsity Swimming Team pose for a picture after recently training at the New Clark City Aquatics Center. Contributed photo)
NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac – Over 50 members of the University of the Philippines (UP) varsity swimming team recently trained at the new Aquatics Center here highlighting the world class quality of the sports facility.
“This pool is the first of its kind in the Philippines and I think it will really help the development of [competitive] swimming in the country,” said Hans Chua, captain of the UP men’s swimming team.
“Performance-wise, this kind of facility is an extra motivation, an extra push [to do] better. It simulates the competition type of environment,” asserts Nadine Tee Ten, co-captain of the women’s team.
Yssa Pogiongko, captain of the women’s team, disclosed how hard the team works to represent their school and bring pride to the UP community. UP is the only state university competing among the eight-member collegiate league.
“Swimming is a sports that takes a lot of training and practice to become better. So, we really train every day,” Pogiongko said. “As much as we can, we train twice a day. We put so much effort in every training session— whether early in the morning or late at night.”
Enthused Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president-CEO Vince Dizon: “Our athletes lack modern training facilities that they deserve that’s why we’re happy to host the UP varsity swimming team since New Clark City is built to be an inclusive city.”
He viewed the swimming team’s use of the facility as proof that the sports complex will soon be a premier training ground for national athletes.
The UP pool is currently closed due to a long overdue renovation which makes training for the team more difficult as they compete for this season’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) swimming championships.
The Aquatics Center here features a 10-lane competition pool, eight-lane training pool, and a diving pool with a five-meter maximum depth.
Accredited by the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA), the Aquatics Center will host swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming competitions during this year’s 30th South East Asian Games.
