By: Joaquin Cortez
NEW CLARK CITY – Alexander Chu made his presence felt early in what could be his final UAAP season for De La Salle University, striking gold in the men’s 800-meter freestyle after outlasting reigning MVP Miguel Barreto on the opening day of the UAAP Season 88 Swimming Championships at the New Clark City Aquatics Center here.
Chu clocked 8:37.20 in the 800-meter event on Thursday to pull off a stunning upset over the UAAP Season 87 MVP.
“I’ve always thought that he’s always been one of the best swimmers,” the 21-year-old product of Chiang Kai Shek.
“So, it was a surprise for me to beat him in that race.”
Barreto bounced back later in the day, teaming up with Peter Dean, Bryce Barraza, and Reiniel Lagman in the 800-meter freestyle relay. There, La Salle shattered its own UAAP record with a 7:58.75 finish — surpassing the previous 8:00.19 mark set last season.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Chu returned to the pool on Day 2 but fell short this time, settling for silver behind Ateneo’s Barreto in the 400-meter freestyle. He clocked 4:07.80, while Barreto topped the event with 4:03.67.
With the UAAP swimming competitions still underway, Chu carries valuable momentum after recently qualifying for the open water event of the upcoming 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.
“It was a surprise for me,” Chu said of his SEA Games qualification.
“I didn’t expect to come in because that was my first time doing an open water swim.”
While pool racing in the UAAP and open water swimming at the SEA Games require different strategies, Chu shared that the overlapping demands of both events have worked to his advantage.
“My events are considered long distance and the training for open water, and for this competition is almost the same,” he explained.
“Since they’re similar, it kind of helps.”
