UP tankers sink field; Ateneo sweeps MVP plums

MANILA—University of the Philippines pulled off a championship double but Ateneo swept the individual awards in the recent UAAP swimming competitions at the Trace Aquatics Center in Los Baños, Laguna.   In badminton, University of Santo Tomas bagged its second straight crown in the men’s division, while Far Eastern U dominated the women’s field at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.   FEU also wrapped up an unbeaten season to capture the men’s title in beach volleyball, while Adamson pulled off the same feat in the women’s side in the recent finals held at the UE Caloocan sand court.   Kendrick Uy, who set a league record of 23.39 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle, powered the UP men’s team to its 16th overall swim title with a team total of 201 points.   The Lady Maroons, anchored on Jodie de Leon, Andeng Belludo, Marielle Infantado and Christine Grace Hipol, garnered 263 points to complete UP’s first pool sweep since the 1997 season.   Ateneo, though, copped all the individual honors with Evan Brian Uy (men) and Denjylie Cordero (women) bagging the MVP titles and Lawin Dacera and Jasmine Ong taking top rookie plums.   Men’s badminton MVP Peter Gabriel Magnaye keyed UST’s second straight title romp by rallying past Ateneo’s Paolo Sunga, 17-21, 21-16, 21-17, in the singles decider that lifted the Tigers to a 3-2 victory in the finals.   Women’s MVP Rochelle Reyes and Rookie of the Year Kim Mayono also starred as the Lady Tamaraws dethroned La Salle, 
3-2, in the women’s final.   In beach volleyball, MVP Angela Benting and Pau Soriano powered the Lady Falcons past La Salle’s Charleen Cruz and Amanda Villanueva,  21-17, 21-14, in a knockout match to claim their second straight crown.   The Tamaraws unseated men’s back-to-back champ UST as MVP Nestor Molate and Arvin Avila whipped Henry Pecaña and Harby Ilano, 21-12, 21-16.