THE SUSPENSION and cancellation of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Seasons 82 and 83 have led to a shortage in the sporting events of 2020. However, this break in action gives people an opportunity to relive the highlights of the record-breaking Season 82: The Blue and White dominated their sports and saw new heroes emerge.

While the Ateneo community may need to wait longer to enjoy more emotional victories, memories from the past season warm our hearts this Christmas as we take a look at the 12 gifts of Season 82.

1: Jolo Viceo’s first UAAP gold medal

Not all athletes win a UAAP gold medal, and many need a combination of hard work and patience before tasting their first victory. One such athlete is Men’s Fencing Team Captain Jolo Viceo, who finally captured that elusive first UAAP gold medal in Season 82. Prior to his victory in the UAAP, Viceo represented the Philippines in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and bagged a bronze medal. Despite winning various competitions, Viceo’s desire to improve his skills led him to train in an American fencing club for two months.

However, six days before the UAAP Fencing Tournament began, Viceo underwent a toenail operation after breaking it from running up the stairs. While the injury healed in time, his lack of training and conditioning meant that he was not in peak form entering the tournament. Despite these setbacks, he clutched a victory in the finals against three-time UAAP MVP Sam Tranquilan.

2: A pair of golds in the SEA Games

As Viceo settled for a bronze medal in the SEA Games, two other Ateneans claimed gold medals. After a bronze finish in the previous SEA Games, Pauline Lopez exerted her dominance on home soil to reclaim the gold medal in the Women’s under-57 kg Taekwondo event. Barely breaking a sweat in the competition, Lopez steamrolled past her semi-finals opponent by 17 points before dismantling Cambodia’s Chhoeung Aliza, 12-4, in the finals to finish the tournament undefeated.

Similarly, infielder Javi Macasaet, was a key cog of the Philippine National Baseball Team’s roster that finished the tournament undefeated. Macasaet competed alongside a number of former Blue Eagles in defending the country’s title via a 15-2 victory over Thailand in the finals, further adding to the country’s dominance in the competition. The win was the Philippines’ third in the competition’s history, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Thailand in 2007. As a key player in this highly offensive team, Macasaet’s experience in the competition would have been beneficial to Ateneo’s UAAP campaign had it not been cut short.

3: FAST Women’s three-peat

In Season 79, the Lady Eagles were on the verge of sealing their first three-peat. However, the University of the Philippines (UP) spoiled their historic run. Four years later, the Katipunan rivals found themselves in a similar situation as they took to the pool for Season 82. 

Not wanting a repeat of Season 79, Team Captain Raegan Gavino, one of the few remaining swimmers from that season, made sure to keep her team focused throughout the four-day competition. This mindset helped push the team forward as they finished a whopping 63 points ahead of UP. Garnering a total of 27 medals and shattering new records in the 200m Butterfly and 4x100m Freestyle relay, the Lady Eagles finally achieved the coveted three-peat in Season 82.

4: The defending champions

As the first half of Season 82 came to a close, Ateneo witnessed a total of four teams defend their championships. The Men’s Basketball team played one last season with key veterans Thirdy Ravena, Matt and Mike Nieto, Isaac Go, and Adrian Wong. Their parting gifts, a historic 16-0 sweep and a three-peat championship, ensured that they left Ateneo on a high note.

In contrast, the FAST Ateneo Men’s Swimming team was already facing their year of rebuilding after the departure of former MVPs Jessie Lacuna and Aldo Batungbacal. Despite losing key veterans, the team staged a dramatic last-day comeback to defend their title and complete the six-peat over archrivals De La Salle University. Alongside the men’s team, the Women’s Swimming Team team completed their coveted three-peat.

The newest members of Ateneo’s list of defending champions was the Women’s Badminton team, who captured their second straight title. Led by the championship-winning experience of the veterans and promising rookie Mika de Guzman, the team swept the competition and finished with a flawless 9-0 record.

5: The admirable runners-up

Four teams may have won championships, but another five performed valiantly throughout the season that saw them capture bridesmaid finishes. The Men’s Badminton Team’s 5-1 elimination round record gave them hope for another title challenge, but they eventually lost, 2-0, in the finals to defending champions National University (NU). Similarly, the Women’s Table Tennis team fell in a 2-0 finals defeat to University of Santo Tomas (UST) despite a hopeful attempt to claim Ateneo’s first ever championship in table tennis. 

The Men’s Fencing Team also missed out on a first championship for Ateneo. The team picked up a gold medal through Viceo and two silver medals from the Team Épée and Team Foil events that saw them finish second only to eight-peat defending champions University of the East. On the other hand, one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals were not enough for the Women’s Fencing team as they failed to defend their Season 81 title and finished third.

Another bronze finisher was the Women’s Beach Volleyball team. Despite a tough elimination round schedule, the team managed to qualify for the Final Four but ultimately fell to four-time defending champions UST. However, with a chance to end the season on a high note, the Lady Eagles came back from a one-set deficit to beat Far Eastern University in the battle-for-third match and claim the bronze.

6: AMFT’s 6-goal statement against UST

After Jarvey Gayoso’s decision to forgo his last playing year in the UAAP, the pressure was on the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) to prove they could keep their title without him. After notching a draw against fellow title contender UP in their opening game, the team displayed its depth by netting six goals against a hapless UST team. Goals from Nino Herrera (2), Mark Nacional, Luca Alleje, Sam Lim, and Jabez Setters served as a statement that the defending champions had no intention of giving up their title. While the title remains theirs for the time being, they look to defend it in the upcoming season.

7: Chloe Daos’ third consecutive seven-gold sweep

As the women of FAST clinched their third straight championship, Chloe Daos once again dominated the UAAP women’s swimming scene after bagging her third consecutive seven-gold sweep and MVP award. Her perfect stint in each event boosted the team’s point total of 458 points, which included a tally of 15 gold, six silver, and eight bronze medals. Daos also dropped a record-breaking 2:19.03 swim in the 200m Butterfly finals, surpassing former FAST Queen Eagle Hanna Dato’s 2:19.71 entry in Season 77. 

Swimming since she was three years old and representing the country in international competitions since the age of 12, Daos has established an impressive reputation in the sport. Aside from her MVP award in her rookie season, Daos garnered both Rookie of the Year and Athlete of the Year awards while also being recognized as the Moro Lorenzo Sportswoman of the Year. In Season 82, Daos added another award to her collection as she bagged the Ambrosio Padilla Athlete of the Year. Entering her fourth playing year in the upcoming season, Daos looks to swim for another title and continue her individual dominance in the UAAP.

8: Eight athletes with top honors

In Season 82, eight players showcased exemplary performances that earned them individual awards. Among them were three-time Men’s Basketball Finals MVP Ravena, three-time Women’s Swimming MVP Daos, and back-to-back Women’s Badminton Co-MVPs Chanelle Lunod and Joella De Vera. These veterans have all been raising the stakes of the game throughout their Ateneo careers, as podium recognitions have become their norm for securing wins after wins.

Meanwhile, Ateneo sports also witnessed new heroes emerge as Women’s Badminton’s Mika De Guzman, Women’s Table Tennis’ Kaela Aguilar, Men’s Swimming’s Jiron Rotoni, and Men’s Fencing’s Miggy Bautista bagged the Rookie of the Year awards. While the MVPs have long established their legacies in their respective sports, the rookies all showed promise in their freshman year. Such experiences under their belts prove that they are more than ready for their inevitable takeover from their seniors.

9: Women Badminton’s fairytale run

After their 2-0 Finals sweep of the DLSU Lady Archers, the Ateneo Women’s Badminton Team secured back-to-back championships with a clean 9-0 slate in Season 82. Team Captain Chanelle Lunod and graduating super senior Joella De Vera spearheaded the flawless campaign as both players bagged their second straight Co-MVP awards. Meanwhile, Mika De Guzman also provided solid performances for the team as she bagged the Rookie of the Year award.

Since Season 80, the team dealt with the departure of several key players. However, the Lady Eagles rose above expectations as they won the first championship in Season 81. Moving past an elimination scare from NU in their crucial semi-finals matchup, they claimed their first crown with a sweep of the University of the Philippines. Their back-to-back titles in Seasons 81 and 82 marked the team’s fourth and fifth overall crowns while earning Lunod, De Vera, and De Guzman the opportunity to represent the country in the 2019 SEA Games.

10: FAST Men’s 10-point comeback victory

With history on the line entering day four of the tournament, the FAST Ateneo Men’s Swimming Team successfully mounted a comeback against DLSU as they capped off their sixth consecutive UAAP title by a marginal 10 points. Trailing the Green Archers by 13 points after the competition’s first three days, the team had to score significant points to reclaim the upperhand.

Drei Buhain and Miguel Barlisan’s 1-2 finish in the 50m Freestyle kicked things off for the Blue and White’s comeback bid. Buhain clocked in at 24:06 for the gold while Barlisan’s 24:11 was good enough for the silver. The two joined forces to snatch a four-point advantage that served as the driving force for the team’s much needed comeback. Building on their teammates’ momentum, Aki Cariño, Josh Taleon, Drew Magbag, and Buhain sealed the championship after clinching the silver medal with a 4:04.93 finish in the 4×100 Medley Relay. The Blue Eagles did not miss the chance for a six-peat, and behind their success were teamwork and dedication that lived up to their motto: Against All Odds.

11: Men’s Basketball’s 11th UAAP ring

Headed by a pack of graduating seniors determined to make the most out of their last year, the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT) completed the three-peat in  historic fashion. Their Season 82 championship elevated them to unparalleled status in collegiate basketball history as they achieved the first ever 16-0 finish en route to claiming the University’s 11th UAAP ring. Seniors Mike and Matt Nieto, Go, Wong, and Ravena were all instrumental in the team’s success, while Angelo Kouame, Gian Mamuyac, William Navarro, and SJ Belangel also provided vital contributions that fueled the team’s charge. The Blue Eagles completed a historical campaign, and the pressure is now left on the returning athletes as they seek to defend the crown and notch the team’s fourth-straight championship.

12: First elimination round sweep in 12 years

Leading to the historical finish of the AMBT was another phenomenal occasion rarely witnessed in UAAP Basketball: The Blue Eagles’ noteworthy 14-0 win-loss record in the elimination round that secured them an automatic finals berth. This elimination round sweep was the first since the Mark Borboran-led UE Red Warriors achieved it 12 years ago. 

Kouame, Belangel, Navarro, and Ravena all showed up against the Kobe Paras-led UP during their final game in the eliminations. After a tight 20-21 showdown in the first nine minutes of the game, the quartet heated up and sparked a 21-5 run to close the first half. With a 13-point advantage heading into the second half, the Blue Eagles refused to loosen up as they cruised to an 86-64 win that sealed the elimination round sweep. Kouame dropped 20 big points in less than 25 minutes of play while Belangel, Navarro, and Ravena all finished with double-digit points.

Marking territories

While Season 82 might have been cut short, many Atenean athletes’ incredible talent on the court led to significant moments in Ateneo sports history. The Blue and White reeled in championships, podium finishes, and record-breaking performances in their respective sports as they commanded the first half of the season and erected their legacy in the collegiate ranks. With Season 83 still out of the picture, the Ateneo community is left with these memories to replay until a new season opens.