Filipino divers seek repeat of ’03 feat

A crack RP diving squad is raring to strut its stuff in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games beginning tomorrow at the newly-built Trace Aquatics Center in Los Baños, Laguna, eyeing no less than a repeat of its feat in the last SEAG in Vietnam.

"We’re looking at four gold medals this time, or maybe more," said diving official Evan Alvia, confident of his wards’ chances in the event the Philippines dominated the last time out with a two-gold, two-silver, and two-bronze medal output in Hanoi.

Honed and toughened up by a five-month training in China, the nine-man national team opens its campaign in the four-day event tomorrow, hoping to come up with a strong start behind Olympian Zardo Domenios, who will be spearheading the country’s bid in the 1m springboard together with teammate Victor Paguia Jr.

Three golds are at stake in the opening day, including in the 3m springboard synchronized for women and the 10m platform synchronized for men.

Making up the squad are Niño Carog (3m springboard/synchronized), Rexel Ryan Fabriga (10m platform/synchronized), Ralph Ronnel Deliarte (10m platform) and Kevin Kong (10m platform synchronized) in the men’s side and Shiela Mae Perez (1m springboard, 3m springboard/synchronized), Andrea Marie Rafanan (3m springboard, 10m platform/synchronized) and Ceseil Domenios (10m platform/synchronized, 1m springboard, 3m springboard synchronized).

There are 10 golds staked in the sport, including in the individual 1m springboard, which will be contested for the first time, with the RP divers vowing to go flat out to corner the bulk in a bid to help the country in its bid for a first-ever overall championship in the region’s biggest sporting meet.

"We’re on track as far as our preparations are concerned. They are peaking but I just want to make sure they will stamp their class early," said Alvia. "I’m confident because this is the best-trained team we ever had the past few years."

The nationals’ five-month stint in China should’ve given the Filipinos the chance to polish their craft, build confidence and achieve consistency, particularly in the synchronized events where they are expected to dish out gold-medal performances.

Still, the hosts, who also saw action in the FINA Diving Grand Prix and the Asian Diving Championships where they came away with two silvers and three bronze medals, remain wary of the opposition with Alvia picking Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar as the teams to beat.

However, Malaysia’s bid has been weakened following injuries to Cheong Jun Hoong and Leong Mun Yee, the defending champion in the individual 10m platform. Hong and Yee also ruled the synchronized event in Vietnam.