CAPAS, TARLAC — University of Santo Tomas opened its bid for a fifth consecutive double crown in dominant fashion, showcasing its depth and power on the opening day of the UAAP Season 88 High School Swimming Championships on Thursday at the New Clark City Aquatics Center here.
The Junior Tigersharks and Junior Lady Tigersharks stood head and shoulders above the competition, amassing 127 points in the boys’ division and 118 in the girls’ division — well ahead of their nearest pursuers, the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
TIGERSHARKS MAKE A SPLASH
UST’s boys’ squad captured four of the five gold medals at stake on opening day, highlighted by a record-breaking performance from the quartet of Kristoff David, Gabe Sy, CJ Valenzuela, and Tim Capulong in the 4×50-meter medley relay.
Their time of 1:48.13 shattered the six-year-old record of 1:49.97 set by former UST standouts John Neil Paderes, James Hutchings, Jerico Salas, and Lord Mikhail Cruz.
Ateneo settled for silver (1:50.59), while guest school PAREF Southridge School took bronze (2:02.45).
EVANGELISTA’S GOLDEN START
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Reigning MVP Aishel Evangelista also began his title defense on a golden note, clinching two individual golds in the 800-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley.
The 16-year-old standout narrowly edged teammate Charles Janda in the 800-meter freestyle, clocking 9:09.62, just two milliseconds ahead of Janda’s 9:09.64. Abrix Cruz completed the UST podium sweep with 9:16.89.
Evangelista then made it two-for-two with a win in the 200-meter individual medley, finishing in 2:15.84, slightly ahead of Janda’s 2:17.22. Ateneo’s Rafael Lentejas III placed third with 2:17.80.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Tigersharks closed the day with another relay gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle, as Jamen Bersamin, Valenzuela, Sy, and Cruz stopped the clock at 8:32.79. Ateneo (8:47.43) and De La Salle Zobel (9:48.42) rounded out the podium.
LADY TIGERSHARKS HOLD FIRM
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the girls’ division, the Junior Lady Tigersharks bagged three of the five gold medals at stake — two of which came from the relay events.
The quartet of Loreen Palmos, Taylor Saliba, Savannah Oliveros, and Yana Lagula ruled the 200-meter medley relay with a time of 2:06.65. Ateneo (2:09.50) and the University of the Philippines Integrated School (2:20.45) completed the podium.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Mara Santiago, Elyzha Son, Alex Rejuso, and Zichi Daiz dominated the 4×200-meter freestyle relay with 9:28.06, far ahead of DLSZ’s 10:27.68 and Ateneo’s 10:31.53.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Two-time reigning MVP Pam Santor added UST’s third gold of the day, topping the 200-meter individual medley with 2:28.09. UPIS’s Liv Florendo finished second (2:30.54), while UST’s Genelle Macaspac claimed bronze (2:33.37).
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Ateneo finished Day 1 in second place in both divisions, buoyed by Trixie Ortiguerra’s record-breaking performance in the girls’ 100-meter freestyle. Ortiguerra’s 59.02 broke the previous UAAP record of 59.97 set by UST’s Camille Buico in Season 81 (2018).
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UPIS secured the two remaining golds on opening day. Florendo set a new UAAP mark in the girls’ 800-meter freestyle with 9:45.72, eclipsing DLSZ’s Raven Alcoseba’s 2018 record of 9:49.91, while Kevin Chan ruled the boys’ 100-meter freestyle with a time of 54.37.
