By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Young artistic swimmers from Bacolod City brought pride to the country after winning bronze medals at the Panasonic Pan Asia 21st Hong Kong Artistic Swimming Open Championships held at the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool in Hong Kong.

Representing Philippine Aquatics Inc., the Bacolod-based squad competed in the international category against teams from Hong Kong, China, Macau, and Singapore.

In the 13-15 youth category, Antonia Lucia Raffaele earned a bronze medal in the figure and solo free championship with a total score of 202.22, performing “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from “The Little Mermaid” and completing routines that included whip continuous spin 720, Saturn, Venus, and Albatross Spin Up 360.

Raffaele teamed up with Zoe Lim to secure another bronze in the duet free event, performing Gloria Estefan’s “Wepa.”

The team of Maddison Violet Durban, Annika Daniella Ritual, Nyx Reiley Uy, Vanni Duyongco, Zoe Lim, Antonia Lucia Raffaele, and Sophia Denise Solideo also clinched a bronze in the team free (open) event with their routine to Michael Jackson’s “Black or White.”

The group was coached by Maria Graciella Jasmina Sanchez.

This marks the second time Philippine Aquatics, Inc. has joined the annual competition.

Based in Bacolod City, the team — formed in 2018 by then-national team coach Reina Suarez — is currently the only artistic swimming-focused squad in the Philippines./ASC, WDJ