Manila, Philippines—The women’s national water polo team are all set to take part in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore. Nicknamed the Sirens, they will compete in the five-country event between June 10 to 15 at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.
According to team captain Bea Felise Garrido, the Sirens are gunning for nothing short of a podium finish. “We’ve been practicing for SEA games for about a year now[while] some of us have been training for five years,” says Garrido.
While unranked and competing for the first time, the Sirens look to make a splash against Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and defending champions and host country Singapore.
“We’ve been waiting for this opportunity to come to us,” says Garrido who serves as one of the playmakers on the squad.
The team is coached by Reynaldo Galang, Dale Evangelista, Ricardo Dilapdilap, Edmund San Pedro, and Ireneo Bautista. Most of the players come from a swimming background and, according to Garrido, are used to the pressure that comes with competition: “Walang mawawala sa amin…win or lose as long as binigay namin ‘yung best namin, panalo kami para sa sarili namin.”
The rest of the team is composed of Kunti Dasi Tibby, Danyca Kloie Evangelista, Lia Trisha Co, Lyllian Grace Banzon Sachi Dasi Tibby, Christine Grace Hipol, Daniella Camyl Evangelista, Krystal Rae dela Cruz, Carla Beatriz Grabador, Trixia Paulette Caguitla, Dara Clariza Evangelista, and Jobelyn Ocampo.
