Lady Maroons, Lady Eagles figure in tight race; Blue Eagles closes in on 3rd straight crown

There is no question that the Men’s Swimming Team of Ateneo de Manila University has already steered clear from any threat of being upset as three-peat champions in the 79th UAAP Swimming Championships. Ateneo Swimming Program Director Archimedes Lim is “happy about the individual performances” of his wards and the “team spirit” that they exude.

However, the Lady Eagles are expecting another late challenge by perennial runners-up University of the Philippines.

“We know that they will catch up. We will try hang on to the lead. But in terms of times, the girls improved and we’re happy about it,” he said.

The lady tankers of Ateneo are clinging on to a slim ten point margin over UP.

“The girls have been really working hard in their swims. They’re coming up with good times and breaking records,” UP’s Swimming Program Director Noel Rivera said. “We’re good with our swims, there weren’t any disqualifications. So we’re hoping to catch up.”

UAAP Season 79 Men’s Swimming

In typical fashion, the Blue Eagles won all but one event in a long, six-event day, setting two new UAAP records along the way. Headlining day two for Ateneo was the 200m Freestyle Relay team of Brandon Sing, Axel Ngui, Paolo Mutuc, and Jessie Lacuna who smashed the UAAP record established last year by De La Salle University by a whopping 2.26 seconds, with their time of 1:36.95. DLSU finished second at 1:37.76 while UP was third in 1:40.46.

Also making waves was Alberto Batungbacal who broke the UAAP record in the 100m Breaststroke with a time of 1:05.78. The podium was crowded with his teammates Mutuc, who took the silver in 1:06.68, and the previous record holder, Carlo Silva, who settled for bronze in 1:07.34.

Batungbacal returned for another gold medal finish in the 400m Individual Medley by clocking in at 4:39.98. Eman Dapat of Ateneo, touched next at 4:46.99 while DLSU’s Alnair Guevarra took the bronze in 4:51.55.

Lacuna had a busy day as well collecting his third and fourth individual gold medals in the 200m Freestyle (1:55.29) and 50m Butterfly (25.47). Ateneo rookie sensation Jethro Chua snagged the silver in the 200m Freestyle narrowly missing the gold with his time of 1:55.51. Lacuna’s younger brother Dexter from UP took the bronze in 1:59.77. It was DLSU’s Red Silvestre who took the silver in the 50m Butterfly (26.37) and UP’s Lans Donato who took the bronze (26.55).

DLSU’s Neil Puyo managed to squeeze past gold medal favorite Ngui in the 100m Backstroke as he registered a time of 1:00.34, a mere 0.04 seconds ahead of Ngui. Ateneo’s Gerard Reyes rounded out the podium in 1:00.94.

The Blue Tankers are expected to stretch their lead in the final day of competition.

UAAP Season 79 Women’s Swimming

The Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team however, continues to cling on to their lead as the UP Lady Tankers cut their margin by half again. UP’s surge came behind their dominance in the 100m Breaststroke where they claimed all three podium positions. Joy Rodgers led the group in 1:16.03 followed by rookie Alyssa Pogiongko (1:18.56) and Pricila Aquino (1:19.77).

DLSU surprisingly went away with two gold medals in the day as Catherine Bondad won gold in the 100m Backstroke in 1:07.27 ahead of Ateneo’s Ariana Herranz (1:08.09) and DLSU’s Dara Evangelista (1:10.26).

The other gold medal for DLSU came in the 200m Freestyle Relay where Glycel So, Mariel Carandang, Bondad and Evangelista teamed up for a 1:54.17 finish. Ateneo was second in 1:56.23 while UP was third in 1:57.23.

Ateneo still managed to bring home three gold medals for the day all courtesy of reigning MVP Hannah Dato who ruled the 200m Freestyle (2:11.36), 50m Butterfly (29.03) and 400m Individual Medley (5:13.66). UP’s Delia Cordero also had a busy day collecting three silver medals in the same three events – 200m Freestyle (2:13.60), 50m Butterfly (29.55) and 400m Individual Medley (5:16.60).

It was Andrea Ngui of Ateneo who took the bronze medals in 200m Freestyle (2:13.92) and 50m Butterfly (29.85) while teammate Romina Gavino took the bronze medal in the 400m Individual Medley (5:17.85).

All eyes turn to the Women’s Division as the scenario is set for another exciting finish in the 79th UAAP Swimming Championships. Events lined up for the final day are 50m Backstroke, 200m Breaststroke, 200m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, 1500m Freestyle (for Men’s only) and 400m Medley Relay.