AFTER LAST year’s lackluster season, both the Blue and Lady Tankers are now gearing up with greater motivation than ever for the 77th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). This year is looking even more promising to the teams, especially with the combined efforts of veteran team members and high-performing rookies.

As the UAAP swimming season gets closer and closer, the Blue and Lady Tankers become more determined to redeem both championship titles once again.

Blue Tankers

Dropping two ranks from the top spot of the podium finish did not discourage the Blue Tankers to work harder this year. The Blue Tanker’s lineup for this season comprises of skilled and determined swimmers who are ready to take on the challenge.

This season, Olympian and interdisciplinary studies sophomore Jessie Lacuna, who has served his one year residency, is now ready to don the blue and white. During his residency, Lacuna has been using most of his time to prepare for his debut season. He has been training regularly all year round and competing in international competitions such as the Southeast Asia Federation (SEAF) 2014 and the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) World Cup in 2013.

“I’m excited for my first UAAP swim because I can help the team gain more points, unlike last year–I was in residency, so I was seated there on the stands– [when] I cannot do anything but cheer,” says Lacuna in a mix of English and Filipino. “I’m really looking forward to this season.”

Another key player to the team is record holder and Co-captain Axel Ngui. Ngui is currently holding the records of the 800m, 400m and 200m freestyle, all of which he broke last season.

This season, Ngui hopes to achieve his personal bests again and aims to own the records of the 100m, 800m and 1500m freestyle. Aside from regularly attending trainings with the team, Ngui commits himself to do supplementary training in the 360 Fitness Club and the Baron method diet with sports nutritionist Harvie de Baron.

Ngui claims that most of his motivation comes from the team’s goal rather than his individual goals. “Number one priority for this year is to win the championship,” says the life sciences junior. “We’re currently training harder each day and we try to challenge each other to push harder during training.”

Coming back from last season to aid the team are Team Captain and breaststroker specialist Micco Pesuena, backstroker Jeric Santos and butterfly and freestyler Gio Palencia. 2013 Graduate Benjo Ramos will also be playing in his fifth year as he takes his masteral degree in the Ateneo Graduate School. Together with Ngui, they are all set to step up in their performance this season.

Almost half of the Blue Tanker’s team surprisingly consists of top-notch rookies originating from different high schools. The creams of the crop are members of the multiple-time champions in the UAAP Juniors division, Aldo Batungbacal and Getty Reyes from Ateneo High School.

Last season, Batungbacal made his exit from the Juniors division by owning the records of the 200m and 400m individual medley, and the 200m and 100m breaststroke events. Reyes, on the other hand, was crowned the Juniors Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second time in a row.

Aside from their success in the UAAP, both Batungbacal and Reyes were part of the junior national team, who represented the country in the Southeast Asia Age Group (SEA Age) competition held in Singapore last June 2014.

Other rookies ready to faceoff this season are Brandon Sing, David Mendoza, Paolo Mutuc, Sylver Sison, Franco Gargantiel, Steven Tiu and Giancarlo Silva.

Lady Tankers

Ever since they lost the championship title to the University of the Philippines Maroons in 2008, the Lady Tankers have consistently remained second best to them for the last five years.

This season, the Lady Tankers have the greatest chance of redeeming the championship title once and for all as they’re coming out headstrong with a veteran lineup.

Unlike the Blue Tankers, the bulk of the Lady Tankers consists of high-performance veterans coming back from the previous seasons.

Interdisciplinary studies senior Kimberly Uy is one of swimmers who have been training all year round. She currently holds the record for the women’s 800m freestyle.  In order to aid the team in winning the championship, she aims to contribute as many points as she can and to clock her personal bests once again.

Playing in their fifth year are veterans Celina Gonzalez and Roanne Yu, who are both taking their masteral degrees together with Ramos.

Gonzalez has been a two-time MVP in Seasons 74 and 76, while Yu has been a consistent podium finisher throughout her experience in the UAAP. Both graduates are giving out their best effort to work harder this season, while managing their time with academic commitments.

Other veterans include Team Captain Jacqueline Cruz, breaststroker Ramona Datu, and Season 76 Rookie of the Year and butterfly specialist Thea Caluma.

The Lady Tankers will also feature national team player Hannah Dato this season. Like Lacuna, Dato was one of the team’s prized recruits last year, but she also had to serve one year of residency. During this time, Dato did not stop training and competing in international competitions, such as the SEAF 2014 and the FINA World Cup 2013. She proved to be a great asset to the team as she established a national record in the 200m Individual Medley during the SEAF 2014.

Aside from the veteran players, the team was also able to recruit potential rookies to the team.

Another national team player, Ariana Herranz, will don the blue and white this season in the backstroke events. Herranz has been part of the national training pool since she was 11 years old and has since consistently qualified for the SEA Age competition. She has also been representing the country in other various international competitions such as the Asian Youth Games.

Other rookies who are ready to aid the team in redeeming the championship are backstroker Julia Balanag and butterfly specialist Nathania Rockwood.

Although the Lady Tankers are coming out strong this season, they are expected to work harder, and each swimmer has to step up in order to retrieve the championship title.

“This year is different because we have [a] greater chance of being champions compared to the other seasons,” says Cruz. “It’s going to be a tough fight. It’s not going to be easy. We have to be better than last year.”

Preparation

The training of the Blue and Lady Tankers continues to be rigorous and workouts are intensifying as the season approaches.

The program design includes swim trainings that occur nine times a week, with supplementary training of land or gym workouts in the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

In order to gauge the individual progress of the swimmers, the team recently joined the Inter-Ateneo Championship held in Davao last August 1, where they emerged as the champions in the competition.

The tune-up game did not only monitor the performances of each swimmer, but it also gave the Tankers the opportunity to bond and improve the unity of the team.

“Our usual twice a day swim training, land workouts and team activities are there to ensure that we are well prepared for the UAAP competition,” says Coach Archie Lim. “Of course, the team will perform better with unity,” adds Cruz.

With a strong pool of swimmers and a burning desire to win this season, the Blue and Lady Tankers are now ready to redeem the championship crown.

Editor’s Note: Jeric Santos is a member of The GUIDON’s Externals Staff.