Frayna, Lariba, Dato UAAP Athletes of Year

CHESS player Janelle Mae Frayna and Ian Lariba of table tennis gave their respective sports a lift for being named Athletes of the Year of UAAP Season 77.

Frayna of Far Eastern U became the second straight chess player to capture the AOY after La Salle’s Jan Jodilyn Fronda during the closing ceremonies Saturday night at the UE Theater in Manila.

Ateneo swimmer Hannah Dato, who also won the AOY, failed to attend the ceremonies as she is competing in a meet in Australia.

“I’m grateful for the award. All athletes have been aspiring to win this for their efforts to be recognized,” said Frayna, a Psychology major who helped the Lady Tamaraws end the four-year reign by the Fronda-led Lady Archers.

Already the country’s No. 1 women’s player, Lariba became the second successive La Salle athlete to snare the league’s highest individual accolade after Fronda.

“I hope this is the start of something big for the table tennis community,” said Lariba. June Navarro