PSL to train UPIS tanker for 2015 Universiade

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Swim League swimmer Joy Rodgers, 16, broke the high school 50m breaststroke mark of 35.37 seconds in a new time of 34.45 seconds in the recently concluded UAAP swimming competitions and loomed as the country’s top bet for the 2015 Universiade slated in Gwangju, Korea.

The 5-7 UP Integrated School student mentored by veteran Universiade coach Bernie Cavida, is now being eyed by UP head coach Noel Rivera as an early entry in the national pool for the biennial Universiade, also called the World University Games, considered the Olympics for university students worldwide.

“Only in her early age of 16, Rodgers has a lot of years to give. Potential breaststroker in a year or two, she will reign in this event. She is tall, slim and a humble swimmer, we will train and help her,”  PSL president Susan Papa said.

Rodgers will join members of UAAP overall champion UP in international age group competitions in Bangkok, Dubai and Saudi Arabia this year. 

Other UP swimmers who are candidate to go to Bangkok, Dubai and Saudi are Claire Adorna, Sean Garchitorena, Christen Mercado, Carl De la Cruz and  Pricilla Aquino.

Rodgers and Adorna will be competing in the 48th leg of the PSL series set this weekend in Laguna, where more than 40 teams – Cavite, Quezon Province, Palawan, Bicol, Zambales, Isabela, Baguio, Rizal, Mindoro, Pasay, Quezon City, Bataan, Manila, Malabon, Bohol and Tarlac – are seeing action.