RESUMING THEIR voyage to retain their championship titles, the Fast Ateneo Swimming Team (FAST) hauled in a total of 16 medals on day 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Swimming Tournament on November 10 at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Complex in Manila.

As it stands, the Blue and Lady Eagles are on track to retain their titles as overall champions of the tournament with a whopping 89-point lead over ahead of their closest rivals in the men’s category, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, and a large 117-point lead over the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons in the women’s division.

Starting the day with an impressive victory, FAST powerhouse Jessie Lacuna placed first in the men’s 2oom freestyle finals, clocking in at (1:53.40). Ateneo Veteran Jethro Chua came up at (1:59.86) to rank fourth.

UAAP Season 79’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Aldo Batungbacal topped the podium alongside Breaststroke Specialist Giancarlo Silva who took the silver. Batungbacal finished at (1:06.50) while Silva recorded (1:07.55). Teammates Drew Magbag and Joshua Taleon placed sixth and seventh at (1:09.73) and (1:10.13), respectively.

Lacuna continued to dominate the tournament with a gold in the men’s 50m butterfly managing an impressive time of (25.71) this year. Meanwhile, Team Captain Getty Reyes garnered a bronze in the men’s 100m backstroke with a time of (1:01.36) while veterans Aki Cariño and Brandon Sing recorded (1:01.89) and (1:02.35) to rank fourth and sixth respectively.

For the men’s 400m individual medley, Batungbacal secured another gold with a time of (4:39.93) while young gun Ianiko Limfilipino claimed a silver with a time of (4:46.71). Miggy Arellano placed eighth, clocking in at (5:19.14).

The stadium erupted into cheer for the men’s 4x50m freestyle relay as the Blue Eagles team of Miguel Barlisan, Brandon Sing, Jethro Chua, and Drei Buhain came head-to-head with their rivals, the DLSU Green Archers. Despite the close matchup, the Blue and White came a second behind their rivals and settled for the silver medal at (1:37.57).

The Ateneo Lady Eagles set a new standard of excellence as they soared through day 3 winning a hefty total of five golds out of the six events that took place. Rising to new heights, the Ateneo lady tankers were able to balloon their point tally to 403, a feat never accomplished in the past UAAP Seasons.

Swimming Phenom Chloe Daos finished the women’s 200m freestyle finals with another gold, clocking at (2:10.53), followed by Andrea Ngui who managed to bag a silver with a (2:13.31). Rookie Suzanne Himor placed fifth, timing a (2:20.94).

Standout Rookie Dara Carreon bagged a bronze for her performance in the women’s 50m breaststroke finals, recording a time of (1:21.18) while fellow Rookie Sarah Alvina managed to finish fifth at (1;21.59). Jazmin Chua placed sixth at (1:22.18).

Dominating her preferred event, the women’s 50m butterfly finals, Daos doubtlessly pulled through with another gold at (29.52), while Ngui (30.37) stood by her fellow Lady Eagle at the podium, taking the silver. Santos and Himor recorded times of (30.59) and (30.88), finishing fourth and fifth respectively, missing the bronze by mere milliseconds.

Backstroke Monarch Courtney Gray topped the podium at (1:08.79) in the women’s 100m backstroke finals, while Dara Carreon and Alliah Tan managed to clock in at (1:11.17) and (1:14.08), securing fifth and seventh respectively.

Despite the rigor of the women’s 400m individual medley, Team Captain Raegan Gavino touched at (5:22.18) to claim the gold. Carreon carried on with a (5:43.94) to place fifth in the event while Santos managed to touch sixth, clocking at (5:46.69).

The Lady Eagles ended the third day with another valued medal after Hannah Castañeda, Andrea Ngui, Alliah Tan, and Shaye Uy’s agile sprints in the Women’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay. The four lady tankers clocked in at (1:54.39) to secure yet another gold on the day. The high-speed quad contributed the ninth gold of the FAST’s penultimate day count along with another five silvers, and two bronze.

The FAST Eagles near the end of the line with eleven events remaining on the last day of the UAAP Swimming Tournament on Sunday, November 11 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.