Marikina City, Philippines — The waters of the Marikina Sports Park swimming pool were anything but calm yesterday, August 31, as the 5th RFN Swimming Team Swim Cup 2025 made a big splash after a one-day delay. Originally scheduled on August 30, the meet was pushed back due to water maintenance issues. But as any good swimmer knows, delays are just like false starts—annoying, but the real race still goes on.
A total of 18 swimming teams, plus a courageous swimmer from Palawan, dove into the action despite the reschedule. From the very first whistle, it was clear that the competition would be as fierce as a 50-meter freestyle sprint.
Coach Ronald Nicdao, president of the Solid Swimming Coaches of the Philippines, was full of gratitude:
“We’re thankful the meet pushed through and that almost all the original participants stayed with us. This shows the dedication of our swimming community,” he said with a smile.
Nicdao also proudly announced that the Solid Swimming Coaches Association is now officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—a milestone that gives coaches more recognition and organization.
Swimmers arrived as early as 5:00 a.m. for warm-ups, proving once again that in swimming, the early bird doesn’t just get the worm—it gets the best lanes.
Rain, Thunder, and Tough Decisions
The event wasn’t without drama. A sudden downpour, accompanied by lightning and thunder, forced officials to halt the competition midstream. Meet referee Mr. Danny Anore, assisted by Solid Coaches officials, called for calm. President Nicdao then summoned a coaches’ meeting, where most agreed to scratch the relay events (4x50m freestyle relays for boys and girls) for safety reasons.
“The pool is for racing, not for lightning strikes,” one coach joked, earning chuckles from the group.
Sponsors That Kept the Meet Afloat
Big thanks were extended to sponsors, including Mad Wave Philippines, the main sponsor. Founded in 2003 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Mad Wave has become one of the leading swim brands in the Philippines. Other generous supporters included Shell La Vista, Papa Jun, House of Clogs, Nik and Jay Sisig, Kahilom, Lim and Centeno CPA, and of course, Mad Wave Philippines.
Filipino Swimming: New Stars Rise
Did you know Philippine swimming is bubbling with new talent? Here’s a quick splash of trivia:
- Sophia Rose Garra, just 13 years old, shattered age-group national records at the 2025 PAI National Tryouts—swimming a 1:06.50 in the 100 m backstroke and 30.70 s in the 50 m backstroke.
- At the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, Titus Rafael Sia shattered the elementary boys’ 200 m freestyle record with 2:07.86, and the 100 m backstroke with 1:05.44.
- Sophia Rose Garra also broke her own 100 m backstroke record there, touching at 1:07.61 .
- On the world stage, the Philippine relay team broke a national mark in the mixed 4×100 m medley during the 2024 World Aquatics Championships .
These rising stars show the “Ilocano Shark” spirit is still very much alive and evolving.
Technology Meets Tradition
For those who couldn’t make it to Marikina, results were posted live on philswimming.com and could also be viewed on the Meet Mobile app—proof that Philippine swimming is keeping up with international standards of meet management. Organizers promised that all future Philswimming-officiated competitions would enjoy the same live coverage.
And the Winners Are…
At the end of the day, despite the rain and shortened program, the meet crowned its champions:
🥉 3rd Place: MIS Swim Club – 608 points
🥈 2nd Place: Paraiso ni Baste Swimming Team – 690 points
🥇 Champion: Galleon Tankers Swim Club – 824 points
The pool deck erupted with cheers as the Galleon Tankers lifted the team trophy high, proving they weren’t just tankers in name but real battleships in the water.
What’s Next?
Swimming fans won’t have to wait long for the next splash. Philswimming announced that the next event will be the Rookie Ripples Swim Battle on September 6, 2025, also at the Marikina Sports Park. Another exciting meet, the 2nd FESSAP Aquatic Club Invitational Class ABCD, is tentatively scheduled at Bosay Resort on November 2025.
Coach Nicdao, in closing, reminded everyone:
“The medals are important, but the discipline, friendships, and lessons from the pool matter more. In swimming, as in life, you just have to keep moving forward.” And so, despite thunder, lightning, and an unexpected delay, the 5th RFN Swimming Team Swim Cup 2025 proved that Filipino swimmers are resilient, passionate, and ready to conquer more lanes in the months to come.