CAPAS, TARLAC – For the fifth consecutive year, University of Santo Tomas are once again double champions for the fifth consecutive time in the UAAP High School Swimming Tournament, showcasing their depth and firepower at the conclusion of the event on Sunday at the New Clark City Aquatics Centre here.
In the boys’ division, the Junior Tigersharks dominated with 630 points, far ahead of Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles’ 315 points, De La Salle Zobel Junior Green Tankers’ 143 points, University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons’ 100 points, and guest school PAREF-Southridge School Admirals’ 28 points.
In the girls’ division, the Junior Lady Tigersharks also asserted their supremacy, scoring 580 points, well ahead of Ateneo’s 265 points, UPIS’s 165 points, and DLSZ’s 143 points in this tournament backed by CF Moto, Masiv Sports, and Nike Swim.
This is the 12th overall title of UST as well in both divisions.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Surreal. Feeling proud para sa mga bata dahil na-handle namin yung mga bata na ganyan ka-talented,” said Tigersharks head coach Agot Alcantara. “Yung work naman, kaming coaches, about 10 percent lang yan, 90 percent, sa kanila yan. Yung glory, sa kanila at sa school yan. Kami, nandito lang kami sa likod nila.”
“Actually, yung two years kasi, medyo nag-adjust sila after nung pandemic kasi yung mga klase nila, hindi naman face-to-face. And then nung pagbalik na, medyo nag-adjust kami ng sobra kasi yung class is face-to-face na, inadjust namin yung training at siningit nila yung mga training. Ganon sila kasipag, gusto nila manalo na up until now na straight,” added Lady Tigersharks head coach Rhenzel Jugar.
On the final day, four gold medals went to the Junior Tigersharks, with only the boys’ 200-meter butterfly escaping their grasp. De La Salle Zobel’s Zyrus Bueta snatched the gold in 2:16.62, surpassing UST’s Sam Villanueva (2:18.08) and DLSZ’s reigning rookie-of-the-year Niño Pugay (2:18.51).
Kristoff David, Gabe Sy, and Tim Capulong each contributed gold medals for UST. David (27.33 seconds) outpaced Ateneo’s Thirdy Lentejas (27.97) and UST’s Julian De Kam (29.48) in the boys’ 50-meter freestyle. Sy (2:27.64) dominated the boys’ 200-meter breaststroke, leaving Kevin Chan (2:34.40) of UPIS and Miguel Martinez (2:35.16) of Ateneo behind. Capulong (24.65) claimed gold in the boys’ 50-meter freestyle, defeating Martinez (24.92) and Chan (25.14).
David and Sy later returned to the pool with CJ Valenzuela and Joseph Ciudadano to win the boys’ 400-meter medley relay in 4:03.83, narrowly missing the UAAP record of 4:02.28. Ateneo (4:28.95) and DLSZ (4:37.09) finished well behind.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Though he did not compete on the final day, Grade 10 ace Aishel Evangelista was named season MVP, having collected six gold medals and a bronze across the four days.
“Very happy at natutuwa kasi dahil sa hard work, nakuha na rin namin and may napala yung ginawa naming training and yung pag gising namin sa umaga,” said Evangelista, the 17-year-old swimmer from Caloocan. “Proud din ako sa teammates namin dahil nagpursigi sila and maganda rin yung naging outcome para sa kanila this season.”
In the girls’ division, Ateneo’s graduating ace Trixie Ortiguerra showcased her dominance by winning three gold medals on the final day.
Ortiguerra set a UAAP record in the girls’ 50-meter backstroke with a time of 30.34 seconds, nearly half a second faster than the previous mark of 30.80 set in 2017. UST’s Tintin Uy (32.11) and Loreen Palmos (32.51) finished second and third, respectively.
Competing on home soil, Ortiguerra also claimed the girls’ 50-meter freestyle in 27.46 seconds, finishing almost a second ahead of UST’s Aica Sy (28.42) and DLSZ’s Annika Quinto (28.57).
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Sy later earned Rookie of the Year honors with two silver medals.
Finally, Ortiguerra teamed up with Aliya Tondo, Anaia Lim, and Simone Cruz to win the girls’ 400-meter medley relay in 4:39.99, challenging the UAAP record of 4:38.58. UST followed closely in 4:40.52, while DLSZ (5:06.50) completed the podium.
Despite Ortiguerra’s efforts, the Junior Lady Tigersharks still accumulated more points on Day 4, thanks to wins by Zichi Daiz and Pam Santor in the girls’ 200-meter breaststroke and 200-meter butterfly, respectively.
Daiz (2:49.13) bested Santor (2:51.13) and Taylor Saliba (2:51.57) to give UST a podium sweep in the girls’ 200-meter breaststroke. Santor returned with vengeance in the girls’ 200-meter butterfly, breaking the UAAP record with 2:22.92. UPIS’s Liv Florendo took silver in 2:29.14, while UST’s Sinagtala Cuevas claimed bronze in 2:38.83.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
With the win, Santor secured her repeat as MVP, tallying six gold medals and one silver.
“Sobrang hirap, it’s really hard. But I am glad that after all the challenges, I believed in myself and others believed in me. I am glad that I pulled through after everything,” said 17-year-old Santor, who also won six gold medals representing Manila in last week’s Batang Pinoy competition in General Santos City.
“It was a team effort, first of all, kasi without my teammates, coaches, and parents, I would not believe in myself and salamat din sa coach ko in coach Ramil (Ilustre), who has been with me since the very beginning. I am just happy that I finished my junior year with a bang.”
