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Source: Rey Bancod, mb.com.ph

-- The Philippines will compete in all but three events in swimming in the 25th Southeast Asian Games to underscore the depth and talent of its current roster.

Led by bemedalled Miguel Molina and Ryan Arabejo, the Filipinos are hoping to improve on their eight-gold showing in Thailand two years ago.

Molina, who won four gold medals, will see action in four individual and three relay events.

He will defend his titles in the 200 and 400-meter individual medleys, the 200-meter breastroke and the 4 x 100-meter medley event. He will also compete in the 200-meter freestyle and both freestyle relays.

Arabejo, who won three golds in 2007, will aim for a repeat in the 400-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle, tackle the 100 and 200-meter backstroke and help the team in the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay.

Aside from Molina and Arabejo, the other returning defending champions are Daniel Coakley and James Walsh who are planing in from the United States where they are based.

Coakley, who won the 50-meter freestyle gold in Thailand, will concentrate on three freestyle events and the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay.

Walsh, on the other hand, will lead the country’s drive in the butterfly events aside from the 4 x 100-meter medley.

Several junior standouts are making their Games debut. Jessie Khing Lacuna, only 15, heads the Brat Pack that also includes Jose Joaquin Gonzalez, Banjo Borja, Jasmine Ong and Jasmine Alkhadi.

Lacuna made waves during the National Short Course championships several days ago at home when he smashed the 20-year-old age-group record held by the now retired Eric Buhain. He clocked 1:50.47 in the 200-meter freestyle to better Buhain’s 1:56.81 mark in the 15-17 division.