CAPAS, Tarlac – For the fourth consecutive season, University of Santo Tomas secured a double championship, clinching both the boys’ and girls’ titles at the UAAP Season 87 Swimming Championships held at the New Clark City Aquatics Center here.
This is the Tigersharks’ 11th overall title in the boys’ division and 14th overall in the girls’ side.
Gold Rush to Close
The UST boys’ team swept all six gold medals on Day 4, adding four silvers and a bronze to their haul.
The Tigersharks finished the tournament with an astounding 738 points, far ahead of second-placer Ateneo de Manila University (255), De La Salle Zobel (107), and University of the Philippines (95).
Over the four-day event, UST amassed 20 of the 22 gold medals available, leaving Ateneo to claim the remaining two. The Tigersharks also secured 15 silver and eight bronze medals.
UST boys’ head coach Caesar Augustus Alcantara attributed their dominance to a well-planned recruitment strategy.
“Recruiting ‘yung alam kong makakatulong, kasi may mga nagpapabaya eh [which is] hindi naman mawawala sa team ‘yan,” Alcantara explained. “Every year talaga, kailangan mag-recruit ka kasi gawa ng senior high. Recruit ka ng Grade 11, after two years graduate na ‘yan. So kailangan may pampalit ka. At hindi ka pwede magpalit ng masyadong bata… mga Grade 7 and 8, kasi ang lalakas ng mga kalaban nila which is Grade 11 and Grade 12.”
The strategy of focusing on Grade 11 athletes paid dividends, as Alcantara celebrated UST’s remarkable performance.
“My highlight for this season is that after so long may nag-53 [seconds] na ulit sa 100 [meter freestyle], and 23 [seconds] sa 50 [meter] free. Although ‘yung sa 50 free, nagawa niya sa relay pero first diver siya,” he shared after the tournament which was supported by Nike Swim, CFMoto, and Masiv.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
One of the stars of the boys’ division, Aishel Evangelista, bagged his fifth gold medal in the 1500-meter freestyle on Day 4, earning him the tournament MVP award with 95 points.
In the afternoon session, Ryian Zach Belen contributed two golds, triumphing in the 50-meter backstroke (27.39 seconds) and 50-meter freestyle (24.08 seconds).
Kaden Gabriel Sy and Samuel Ieuan Villanueva also struck gold in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:38.00) and 200-meter butterfly (2:15.84), respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST capped its campaign with a record-breaking performance in the boys’ 4×100-meter medley relay, where Kristoff David, Sy, CJ Valenzuela, and Jabrielle Delizo clocked 4:02.28, breaking their previous UAAP record of 4:03.68 set last season.
Matching the Boys
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The UST girls’ team matched their male counterparts’ excellence, including breaking the 4×100-meter medley relay record.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Alexandra Marie Rejuso, Clara Yzabela Delos Santos, Sinagtala Cuevas, and Juliana Lagula combined for a 4:38.58 finish, surpassing their record of 4:39.39 set last year.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Reigning MVP Patricia Mae Santor shone once again, clinching her fifth gold medal in the 200-meter butterfly (2:24.05).
Though she settled for bronze in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:55.51) behind teammate Sealtiel Cherrie Daiz (2:48.75), Santor’s overall performance earned her a second consecutive MVP award with 91 points.
“I’m proud of how we all performed this season,” said Santor. “Winning back-to-back MVP awards is special, but it’s the team effort that truly matters.”
Future Prospects
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ateneo’s rookie standout, Tarlac-native Trixie Ortiguera, impressed the home crowd by winning two golds on Day 4 in the 50-meter backstroke (31.19 seconds) and 50-meter freestyle (27.79 seconds).
Over the tournament, Ortiguera collected three golds and two silvers, finishing second in the MVP race with 77 points.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Emerging talents also showed promise, with La Salle’s Niño Angelo Pugay claiming the boys’ Rookie of the Year award after earning silver in the 200-meter butterfly.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UP’s Liv Abigail Florendo was named Rookie of the Year in the girls’ division, tallying 55 points from one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal.
With their continued dominance, UST once again proven they are the team to beat, setting the bar high for future UAAP swimming tournaments.
