DAVAO City Tankers aims to defend its title as champion in the upcoming Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet swimming competition set on February 17 in Davao City.
But their main mission this year is to improve their rank in the Palarong Pambansa which will be hosted in Vigan in May.
Elementary girls' coach Den Erick Basconcillo, in a Facebook chat with VoxPop Davao, said the athletes are consistently training.
“Nagbakasyon lang sila December 24, 25, 31 and January 1, for the holidays. Objective kasi namin na manalo and tumaas pa yung rank for Palaro,” said Basconcillo who is confident that Davao City will continue to dominate the regional meet.
Multi-medalist siblings Lora Micah and Liaa Margarette of Abba's Orchard School (AOS) will beef up the Davao City's elementary girls which is also composed of Katerina Annika and Rissa Angelian Sahagun of AOS, Ateneo de Davao University (Addu)'s Maica Angela Garcia, Caitleen Danielle San Felix, Leah Gene Garner, Kristen Orcullo and Ma. Arabella Kristel Del Rio, and Theresse Maria Montaño of Holy Child College of Davao (HCCD).
The elementary boys will rely on Khrystan Tan, Alejandrew Espiritu and Paolo Labanon of Stella Maris Academy of Davao (Smad), Colegio de San Ignacio (CDSI)'s Ivo Nikolai Enot and Francis Greg Espiritu, Addu's Markus Cayunda and Juan Alessandro Suarez, Gabriel Anthony Laolao of Davao Christian High School (DCHS), Ethan James Sacil of Tugbok Central Elementary School (TCES), and Rizob Yarra of AOS to be coached by Lezel Ricardal of SMAD.
Seasoned swimmer Matthieu Adrien Tao of Smad will reinforce the secondary boys along with Fritz Rodriguez of University of Mindanao (UM), Dave Jones Andebor of Brokenshire Science High School (BSHS), Eirron Seth Vibar of Apo Learning Village (ALV), John Martin Yarra of AOS, Joshua del Rio and John Troy Albano of Addu, Edward Alfaro of Assumption College of Davao (ACD), Aaron Dave Alinsub of Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School (PNJKIS) and Tyko Antoine Grasparil of CDSI.
They will be coached by Lizel Morga of AOS.
The distaff side, meanwhile, will lean on Erika Lois Suelan of Davao Chong Hua High School (DCHHS), Juliana Marien Villanueva of Precious International School of Davao (PISD), Alissa Ysabelle Lazarraga, Joanna Kayla Gonzales and Maiki Samantha Gonzaga of Addu, Alyssa Raut Hesed of BSHS, Ahlea Rhunette Ancajas of PNJKIS, and Aisha Prisciller Fernandez and Ezra Marie Villaruz of UM, and Bea Jessica Villanueva of Philippine Science High School to be coached by April Beb Matura of BSHS.