UAAP Swimming: Ateneo gets 3-peat in men’s, UP regains women’s crown

UAAP Women’s Swimming champions.

Ateneo reasserted its mastery in the men’s division while University of the Philippines needed a strong last day showing to regain the women’s crown in the UAAP Season 79 swimming competitions.

Behind season MVP Aldo Batungbacal, the Blue Eagles dominated the four-day meet and collected 603 points for their third straight championship and the fourth overall.

Batungbacal was impressive in the final day for Ateneo, winning the 1,500-meter freestyle (16:42.21) and 200-meter breaststroke (2:22.95) in record fashion. On Sunday, he also set UAAP records in the 100-meter breastroke (1:05.78) and 400-meter individual medley (4:39.98)

But the Eagles failed to complete a championship double as their women’s team yielded the throne to the Lady Maroons, who captured their 15th overall title.

Banking on the solid effort of its breaststrokers led by Pricila Aquino in Day 4, UP came from behind to finish with 444 point to nip Ateneo, which settled for second place with 411.

Hannah Dato, meanwhile, bagged her third straight MVP award after winning six golds, one short of her gold medal haul last year after losing to Jaja Cordero of the Lady Maroons in the 200-meter butterfly.

UAAP Men’s Swimming champion.

Also delivering the goods for Ateneo are former two-time men’s MVP Jessie Lacuna, who won five individual and two relay golds, and Axel Ngui, who capped his collegiate stint with a gold medal finish in the 50-meter freestyle.

De La Salle was in far second with 340 points while UP came through in third place with 194 points.

The Lady Archers, who survived the Lady Maroons onslaught with Catherine Bondad ruling the 50-meter backstroke event, placed third with 129 points.

Aside from Aquino and Cordero, also emerging victorious for UP are Winona Tee Ten in the 50-meter freestyle and the 4×400-meter medley relay team of Mikee Bartolome, Gabriela Torres, Monica Padilla and Joy Rodgers.

Ateneo’s Miggy Arellano and Andrea Ngui were named Rookies of the Year in the men’s and women’s division.

Meanwhile, UST and De La Salle-Zobel became the new champions in the boys and girls divisions.

The Tiger Cubs ended the Blue Eaglets’ 11-year reign by collecting 356 points against the latter’s 312.

The Junior Archers also unseated the Junior Tigresses by the closest of margins, 373-370.

De La Salle-Zobel’s Sacho Ilustre and Nicole Pamintuan are MVPs in the girls and boys division.