Ateneo’s Ngui impressive in UAAP swimming debut
MANILA, Philippines—Rookie Axel Ngui broke the record in the 800-meter freestyle record in only his debut stint, capping a good start for Ateneo’s squads in the 75th UAAP swimming tournament Thursday.
Ngui clocked in at 8:44.38, shattering the record of UP’s Ryan Arabejo set in 2006 by almost six seconds at the Trace Aquatics Center in Los Baños, Laguna.
Ngui overwhelmed his opponents as Nikita Dacera of the Fighting Maroons settled for a silver with a time of 9:03.88, while Gio Palencia of the Blue Eagles ended up with a bronze with of 9:16.51 finish.
Later in the day, Ngui also brought home the title in the men’s 100-meter freestyle, with a time of 53.57 seconds for his second gold.
Kim Uy, last season’s Rookie of the Year, also nabbed the gold for Ateneo in the women’s 800-meter freestyle tie, registering a time of 9:37.46.
Reigning MVP Celina Gonzales finished with silver with 2:31.87 in the 200-meter individual medley, but bounced in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 1:00.19 for Ateneo.
It was UP’s Delia Cordero who finished on top with an impressive time of 2:28.94 in the women’s 200-meter medley.
The Maroon tankers also kicked off their campaign for a fourth straight title in the women’s division, buoyed by Cordero’s early gold.
Cordero also finished with silver in the 800-meter freestyle behind Uy with a time of 9:37.50 for UP, while Jackie Junio ended with bronze in the 200-meter individual medley.
Athlete of the Year Johansen Aguilar, not surprisingly, ruled 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:12.02 as defending champion La Salle opened its retention bid in the men’s.
In the juniors division, Alberto Batungbacal of reigning seven-time champion Ateneo topped the boys 800-meter freestyle (9:23.68).
Batungbacal also emerged victorious in the boys’ 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:20.94, while teammate Gerard Reyes won the gold in the 100-meter freestyle with 57.93 seconds.
Pricila Aquino of UP Integrated School, on the other hand, ruled in the girls’ 800-meter freestyle (10:14.74) and in the 200-meter individual medley (2:34.67).
