The University Athletic Association of the Philippines is set to take its Season 87 Swimming and Athletics Championships to the New Clark City Sports Hub, the site of the historic 30th Southeast Asian Games.
The country’s premier varsity league will hold its swimming and athletics competitions at the world-class facility starting this Sunday, November 17.
The swimming championships will be from Sunday to Wednesday while the athletics championships will end on Thursday.
Ateneo de Manila University Athletics Director Emmanuel “Em” Fernandez expressed his excitement about the venue, saying, “This is the best sports venue in the Philippines, and it’s a place that has already proven itself on the international stage.”
He went on, “The country had the privilege of hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games here, and it’s an honor for us to bring these two events to this incredible facility. With its world-class amenities, the NCC Sports Hub is the perfect place for our student-athletes to compete and showcase their skills.”
The Swimming Championships will take place at the state-of-the-art Aquatics Center, where Ateneo will be chasing a historic ninth consecutive men’s title.
The Blue Eagles’ charge will be led by brothers Miguel and Rafael Barreto, who will look to fend off challenges from the De La Salle University Green Tankers; the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons; and the University of Santo Tomas Tigersharks.
Meanwhile, UP – the host of this year’s Season 87 – will aim for its 17th women’s swimming crown. The Maroons’ star swimmers, including reigning Athlete of the Year Quendy Fernandez and team captain Camille Buico, will be leading the charge.
In the high school division, the Junior Tigersharks will seek to complete their fourth straight “golden double” in the swimming competitions.
(C) New Clark Philippines
At the nearby Athletics Stadium, both the men’s and women’s events will see intense competition.
The National University Bulldogs, who clinched their first men’s athletics title in Season 86, will be defending their crown with standout athlete Tyronne Flores leading the charge.
They will face stiff competition from UP, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, and a retooled UST squad.
On the women’s side, De La Salle’s Lady Green Tracksters will look to retain their crown after an impressive 2023 campaign.
Season 86’s top athlete Bernalyn Bejoy and fellow national team member Jessel Lumapas will be at the helm of the Lady Green Tracksters as they aim to hold off the challenges from the FEU Lady Tamaraws, the UST Female Tracksters, and the NU Lady Bulldogs.
In the high school division, both Adamson University and UST will be gunning for a three-peat in the boys’ and girls’ categories, respectively.
All the student-athletes will be housed at the Athlete’s Village inside the cavernous venue.
The New Clark City Sports Hub, with its modern infrastructure, will provide the perfect stage for these high-stakes competitions.
UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag emphasized the significance of the venue and the importance of spotlighting swimming and athletics, saying, “If you watch the Olympics, swimming and athletics are the highlights – these are the true stars of the show.
“That’s why we believe it’s time for the UAAP to focus more on these two events. The facilities at the NCC are world-class, and we are hopeful that this will be just the first of many events we’ll be able to host here in the future.”
