QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Nearly 300 young swimmers from clubs across Luzon made waves yesterday, December 6, 2025, at the 4th Holiday Swim Cup 2025, held at the newly renovated Amoranto Sports Complex Swimming Pool along Roces Avenue. The event was organized by the Solid Swimming Coaches of the Philippines (SSCP), led by its reliable and indefatigable president Coach Ronald Nicdao, vice president Coach Lope Macuha, secretary general Coach Zigfrey Camua, and treasurer Coach Vangelyn Isla Diaz.
The competition marked one of the first major events to take place in the upgraded facility, and both swimmers and coaches were thrilled with what they saw. The pool now features a more spacious deck, a large grandstand, clean restrooms with strong water supply, a wide parking area, and even a 3-lane 25-meter cool-down pool—a rare bonus for local swim meets.
“It feels like we are finally catching up with world-class pools in the country,” said Coach Nicdao, who juggled duties throughout the day as meet organizer, referee, announcer, and welcoming host to teams. “Once everything is finished, Amoranto will be able to stand side-by-side with venues like the Muntinlupa Aquatic Center and the historic Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Manila.”
A Blessed Afternoon and a Promising Future
According to Coach Ronald, the automatic timing system is currently being repaired, and the next phase is to install a roof over the grandstand, which is still under construction. For now, organizers used a large cloth cover to protect spectators and athletes from the sun—but nature was kind. “We were blessed with cloudy skies all afternoon,” said Coach Nicdao. “It really helped everyone enjoy the meet.”
The SSCP also extended its gratitude to the Quezon City Government for supporting the pool’s renovation and opening its doors to grassroots competitions like this one.
Exciting Races, Generous Prizes
Every heat winner received ₱50, courtesy of supportive sponsors—including Madwave Philippines, one of the event’s main partners.
“Small rewards like this motivate young swimmers to push harder,” shared Coach Macuha during a short interview. “These kids are the future of Philippine swimming.”
This reporter—yours truly—was in charge of results and data encoding, witnessing firsthand the fast swims and rising talents throughout the day.
Rising Stars to Watch
Several swimmers stood out with their impressive performances and strong racing spirit. Among the promising young athletes were:
- Atasha Ysabelle Sarmiento
- Franco Louis Amoyo
- Liana Yzabel De Castro
- Zane Enzo Juliano
- Annika Orlina
- Brentt Vaughn Romanes
- Kyla Rezzini Rivera
- Joaquin Rivera
- Mayumi Fenol
- Clint Xymon Billaoac
- Sinagtala Cuevas
- Gabriel King Camua
- Caedys Marie Navarro
- Lance Gadriel Lopez
“Many of these swimmers could become national-level athletes in a few years,” remarked Coach Vangie Isla Diaz. “They have the hunger and discipline we love to see.”
Team Standings
After a full day of racing, here are the official team results:
- 4th Runner-Up: St. Scholastica’s College Manila
- 3rd Runner-Up: Malolos Stallion Waves Swim Club
- 2nd Runner-Up (Tie): Atlantean Dolphins Swim Team & Cainta Aquatics Sports Club
- Champion: Paraiso ni Baste Swim Team
Next Stop: Bosay Resort Invitational Meet
The SSCP also announced its next event—the 6th Bosay Resort Invitational Meet, scheduled for the first week of February at the picturesque 50-meter pool of Bosay Resort in Antipolo. The meet will be supported by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP), Swim League Philippines (SLP), and the Solid Swimming Coaches of the Philippines.
With the momentum built by the 4th Holiday Swim Cup, local swimming continues to grow stronger—one race, one pool, and one young athlete at a time.