THE FAST Ateneo Swimming Team (FAST) conquered the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Swimming tournament, soaring past the competition to defend their championship title on November 11 at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Complex in Manila.
Both the Blue and Lady Eagles took home gold with the men’s division securing a 5-peat title and the women’s division completing back-to-back championship wins.
Ateneo started the championship finale in high spirits as Season 79 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Aldo Batungbacal broke his UAAP Season 79 record of (16:42.42) for the men’s 1500m freestyle, clocking in at a time of (16:35.33). Rookie Ianiko Limfilipino finished right behind Batungbacal at (17:072.17) for the silver while young gun David Dy placed fourth overall with a time of (17:46.18).
The veteran-rookie duo of Batungbacal and Limfilipino topped the competition again, this time in the men’s 200m breaststroke finals. Batungbacal turned on the jets in the event, clocking in at (2:21.75) to surpass his UAAP record once more. Limfilipino came right behind him, taking silver with a time of (2:24.62).
More blue tankers filled the finals lineup as veterans Brandon Sing and Aki Cariño qualified for the men’s 50m backstroke finals. Sing clocked in at (29.33) to rank sixth overall while Cariño placed right after him at (29.44).
Swimming in his UAAP swan song, two-time Olympian Jessie Lacuna made a legendary record-breaking run at (2:02.69) in the men’s 200m butterfly finals beating his past record of (2:03.93) to bag his final UAAP gold. Limfilipino placed eighth at (2:26.05) in the event.
Adding to the medal tally, Drei Buhain exploded to time (24.58), taking silver while fellow sophomore Miguel Barlisan recorded (24.68) to place fourth in the men’s 50m freestyle finals.
Looking to end on a high note, Aki Cariño, Giancarlo Silva, Getty Reyes, and Jethro Chua teamed up to take the men’s 4x100m medley relay. With each member swimming their hearts out, the crew clocked in at (4:03.49) to break the Blue and White’s previous record and take home one last gold.
Securing a second consecutive championship title, the Lady Eagles earned their way to the top of the collegiate swimming throne by accumulating a whopping total of 530 points during the 81st Season’s UAAP Swimming Finale.
The Ateneo lady tankers managed to pull off a top-4 sweep in the women’s 200m butterfly. Chloe Daos, last season’s UAAP MVP and Rookie of the Year (ROY), topped her exhibition event finishing at (2:21.42), while fellow Butterfly Specialist Suzanne Himor followed with a silver, clocking a time of (2:29.19). Coming in third, Team Captain Raegan Gavino recorded a time of (2:30.15) to join her two teammates on the podium. Kristine Santos completed Ateneo’s triumphant sweep with a time of (2:33.22) to secure fourth place.
Sarah Alvina, Dara Carreon, Jazmin Chua and Raegan Gavino, filled up the finals’ lineup with the Blue and White as they dominated their rivals in the women’s 200m breaststroke finale. Chua bagged silver after an exemplary (2:51.52) performance, followed by Gavino who clocked in at (2:55.97), claiming her second bronze of the day. Rookies Alvina and Carreon recorded times of (2:56.41) and (3:03.53), finishing fourth and eighth respectively.
In the women’s 50m freestyle, Season 79’s ROTY Andrea Ngui topped the podium with a (27.58) finish, while Veteran Lady Eagle Shaye Uy touched fifth at (28.67).
Ngui also earned a bronze after her (32.37) performance in the women’s 50m backstroke, followed by a (32.41) finish by Courtney Gray who came in fourth place.
The stadium erupted as Hannah Castañeda, Courtney Gray, Suzanne Himor, and Kristine Santos topped the 4x100m individual medley relay with a winning frenzy at (4:43.92), delivering Ateneo FAST’s last gold win of the season.
In the closing ceremony, the unbeaten king Jessie Lacuna received his fourth MVP award, bringing his total UAAP gold count to 35 (33 individual and 2 team).
Chloe Daos finished the season with an immaculate winning streak of seven gold medals and a hefty total of 107 points as she garnered her second consecutive MVP award in as many years. Teammate Dara Carreon, also served as a crucial factor to the Lady Eagles’ road to the crown as she shared the inter-collegiate spotlight with Daos after earning the Rookie of the Year accolade.
Through the years, the Ateneo has developed a gold-laden stint in the collegiate swimming scene, and Batungbacal could not stress enough the importance of swimming as a team sport. He said, “You can win all the medals, you can make all the records, but in the end, if you’re not helping anyone, it doesn’t matter.”
Editor’s note: Jethro Chua was the last swimmer for the men’s 4x100m medley relay, not Miggy Arellano. We apologize for the oversight. Rest assured the article has been edited accordingly.
