UP rules UAAP swimming competitions

Members of the UP team celebrate their swimming competitions sweep. Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines dominated the men and women’s division of the UAAP Season 76 swimming competitions at the Trace Aquatics Center in Los Baños, Laguna.

The Fighting Maroons amassed 452 points to regain the men’s crown they last held three years ago — beating out De La Salle and dethroning Ateneo. The Green Archers finished in far second with 301 points while the Blue Eagles totaled 208 points for third place.

Overall, UP took home its 17th men’s crown.

The Lady Maroons also plowed through their competition with star tanker Clair Adorna leading the way.

The graduating Adorna bagged four gold medals, one silver and one bronze while setting new league records in the 400-meter freestyle clocking in at 4:33.69 and in the 200-meter backstroke at 2:23.53 as the Lady Maroons sat comfortably at the helm with 587 points.

The Lady Eagles wound up in second with 387 points while the Lady Archers ended up in third with 115 points.

Apart from Adorna, who seized her 14th podium finish overall, the Cordero sisters, Denjylie and Delia also had their fair share of the spotlight with a combined seven-gold, four-silver and two-bronze medal haul.

Denjylie, the 2010 MVP, reset records in the 50-meter breaststroke (34.01), 100-meter breaststroke (1:14.06), 200-meter breaststroke (2:37.75) and 200-meter individual medley (2:25.58).

Delia, last season’s Rookie-MVP, on the other hand, bested her competitors in the 200-meter freestyle (2:09.91) and 200-meter butterfly events (2:21.34).

Gabe Castelo and Charlie Walker steered the Fighting Maroons’ campaign with two gold medals each.

Castelo, the former Blue Eaglet star, topped the 50-meter (26.26) and 100-meter butterfly (57.45) while Walker ruled in the 50-meter backstroke (27.33) and 50-meter freestyle (24.05).

Meanwhile, De La Salle University’s Johan Aguilar matched former Green Archer Enchong Dee’s feat with a third straight MVP plum. UP’s Christen Mercado was named Rookie of the Year.

Ateneo’s Celina Gonzalez seized her second MVP honors in three seasons after collecting four gold medals and three silvers while her fellow Lady Eagle Thea Caluma was this year’s best rookie.

Ateneo also nabbed its ninth boys championship while University of the East’s girls team pulled off a ‘three-peat’ in the juniors division. Getty Reyes and Joshua Taleon of Ateneo were named MVP and Rookie of the Year, respectively.

UE’s Jhoy Mendoza was named girls MVP while UST’s Ronalyn Lalimo took home the Rookie of the Year award.