University of Santo Tomas received its eighth-straight collegiate and seventh-straight high school UAAP General Championship at the close of Season 86 on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
It was another runaway win for UST, accumulating 332 points at the collegiate level and 257 points at the high school level.
This is also the school’s 47th overall general championship in the collegiate division and 23rd in the high school ranks.
“I’m happy, and I know the whole Thomasian community is also happy that we bagged this award for Season 86 – that we were crowned as general champions,” said UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics director Fr. Rodel Cancancio, OP.
“This is our 47th for college and our 23rd for high school out of the 26 times it was awarded. This is the culmination and the fruit of our hard work, sacrifices, and dedication of our coaches and student-athletes.”
In the collegiate division, UST won the championships in women’s basketball, men’s table tennis, women’s taekwondo, poomsae, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, men’s tennis, men’s chess, and women’s 3×3 basketball.
The school also topped the competition in boys’ and girls’ table tennis, girls’ beach volleyball, boys’ and girls’ swimming, boys’ judo, and girls’ athletics.
De La Salle University placed second in both the collegiate (269) and high school (154) divisions.
The University of the Philippines was third (258) in the collegiate division, while Adamson took third (135) in the high school ranks.
UP’s Quendy Fernandez and Adamson’s Hussein Lorana were the individual Athletes of the Year.
Adamson’s Shaina Nitura and UST’s Kent Pastrana were the Athletes of the Year for team events.
Fernandez, an 18-year-old swimming prodigy from Puerto Princesa, won three golds in the women’s swimming event and earned Most Valuable Player honors in her freshman year.
Lorana, a 19-year-old from Baguio, won three golds in boys’ athletics.
Nitura led the Adamson Baby Falcons to their first girls’ volleyball championship, while Pastrana, a former De La Salle Lady Archer, was instrumental in UST’s quest for the top.
Also honored were the athlete-scholars of the league.
Lucille Almonte (Adamson), Joaquin Casanova (Ateneo), Jessel Lumapas (DLSU), Katrina Magbitang (FEU), Kent Altajeros (NU), Andrea Matias (UE), Susmita Ramos (UP), and Pierre Abellana (UST) were the honorees in the collegiate division.
Nitura (Adamson), Ivo Enot (Ateneo), Kieffer Alas (DLSZ), Ruelle Canino (FEU-D), Sara Dalagan (NUNS), Nina Canlas (UE), Olympia Ducanes (UPIS), and Estelliah Gillana (UST) represented the high school ranks.
Also acknowledged were the 61 student-athletes who represented Team Pilipinas in international competitions.
In the street dance competition, UST after Prime and Galvanize bagged the titles in the collegiate and high school divisions, respectively.
Prime lorded over the competition with 90.50 points, followed by the Far Eastern University Street Alliance (89.17) and the University of the Philippines Streetdance Club (86.33).
The Company of Ateneo Dancers barely missed the podium, followed by the National University Dance Company, Adamson University Dance Company, and La Salle Dance Company, in that order.
On the other hand, Galvanize captured the crown with 86.17 points over Adamson Dance Company’s 84.50 and NU Dance Company’s 79.33.
Zobel Dance Crew completed the participating schools in the high school division.
To close out the ceremony, University of the East President Dr. Zosimo Battad transferred the hosting duties to University of the Philippines President Atty. Angelo “Jijil” Jimenez.
“Work hard and prepare for next season. Take a break, recover, and come back stronger,” said Dr. Battad, UAAP Season 86 chairman.
UAAP Season 87 is set to commence on September 7, 2024.
