INQUIRER Sports

ENCHONG DEE powered La Salle to the UAAP men’s swimming championship, while the University of the Philippines captured its first women’s crown in 10 years Sunday at the Trace Aquatics Center in Los Baños.

Dee picked up a tournament-best seven gold medals to capture his third Most Valuable Player plum.

A part-time actor and model, Dee accounted for 63 of the Green Archers’ 240 points after ruling the 1,500-meter freestyle (17:39.69), 800m free (9:14.84), 200m fly (2:13.74), 100m fly (57.38), 50m fly (26.37), 400m individual medley (5:01.09) and 200m IM (2:15.42).

The Lady Maroons, who piled up 257 points, leaned on the winning performances of veteran Marielle Infantado (200m fly, 2:32.80), rookie Claire Adorna (50m fly, 32.19) and the relay team of Infantado, Andrea Belludo, Queenie Lao and Kristine Lapiz (4x100m medley, 4:50.10).

Ateneo’s Nikki Santiago secured the women’s MVP plum after shattering the league records in three freestyle events at 800m (9:31.22), 400m (4:36.61) and 100m (1:00.65).

The Blue Eaglets bagged their fifth straight boys’ title with 375 points to spoil the campaign of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, who settled for second at 213 points despite the record-setting feat of MVP Gian Berino.