PROPELLED. Aqua Knight executes a butterfly stroke for their upcoming competition on September. Photo by Michael Estupigan.
By Miguel La Torre
After their underwhelming finish last season, the Letran Aqua Knights looks to start anew with their new head coach and latest acquisitions.
Former assistant coach Rommel Alcantara will now take the helm as he aims to steer the Intramuros-based swimmers atop the team standings.
Alcantara spent three years as second in command before being named as head coach this season.
The Aqua Knights, after finishing sixth overall last season, are rebuilding with a new squad after several players from last year’s roster departed the team.
“Out of the five na grumaduate, isa lang ang nag-stay,” Alcantara said.
According to Alcantara, one of the factors that affected the composition of his roster is due to the recruitment of players.
“Kailangan kasi pag mag recruit ng players, dapat ‘yung magaling talaga,” he said.
“Ang pag recruit, ‘yan usually ang pinaka worst eh. Kailangan maganda ang offers at ma-convince sila,” he added.
In order to strengthen their rebuilding efforts, they’ve acquired the services of five players whom they scouted around the country as a replacement for those who left.
To assure that his swimmers are in tip-top shape, Alcantara bared that he still gives them the same training routine he does for the past three years.
“Hard training pa rin, actually ang swimming kasi is full of core and number one, endurance,” he stated.
“Number one na bawal sa kanila is Coke. Kapag matigas ang ulo, simple lang, minsan tatanggalan ko ng allowance,” he revealed.
Although the team started a bit late in their training sessions for this year, Alcantara assures that he will do everything in his power for the Colegio.
“For this year kasi medyo late na ako nag start eh, so kapa-kapa pa lang pero ang target ko is Season 95. But still, gagawin ko lahat para sa Letran,” he stated.