Ateneo’s Dato bags Asean U-Games gold

Ateneo swimming ace Hannah Dato gave Team UAAP-Philippines its fifth gold by topping the women’s 50-metter butterfly event late Tuesday in the 17th Asean University Games in Palembang, Indonesia.

Fresh from her stint in the Fina World Championships, Dato—the UAAP Season 77 MVP—clocked 28.33 seconds to beat Thailand’s Supasuta Sounthornchote (28.63).

Team UAAP-Philippines also scooped two silver medals courtesy of University of the Philippines swimmer Denjylie Cordero in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke and newly minted Season 77 MVP Janry Ubas of Far Eastern University in the men’s long jump.

Cordero was a second slower to eventual gold medalist Erika Chia Kong of Malaysia as she recorded a time of 2:38.97.

Ubas, who powered the Tamaraws to a fifth consecutive UAAP championship recently, recorded a leap of 7.30 meters to settle for the silver behind winner N.A Sukhasvasti of Thailand (7.58m).

As the Asean University Games enters the homestretch, Team UAAP-Philippines’ tally is now pegged at five gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals for fifth place overall.

The Filipino student-athletes earlier won four gold, four silver and four bronze medals in taekwondo. The country also captured a bronze in women’s volleyball behind standouts from UAAP champion Ateneo.

Other Filipino bronze medalists were Ateneo’s Ariana Herranz in the women’s 200m backstroke and FEU track and field mainstay Kenny Gonzales in the men’s javelin throw.