FOLLOWING THEIR strong campaign opener, the Ateneo Swimming Teams carried their momentum into the second day of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Swimming Championships. The event was held earlier today, November 7, at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac.
Freestyle
The Men’s 400m Freestyle event featured an impressive showing from the Ateneo Men’s Swimming Team. Season 87 Men’s Most Valuable Player Miguel Barreto captured the gold medal with a time of 4:03.67. Marco Daos (4:09.90) narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth, while Paolo Labanon (4:14.95) followed closely in fifth place.
In another display of excellence, Mishka Sy delivered another first-place finish for the Blue Eagles in the Women’s 400m Freestyle, topping the placements with a time of 4:37.90. Right behind the gold medalist were Marga Amoguis (4:55.56) and Co-captain Chelo Neri (4:56.74), who commanded respectable performances and finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
Breaststroke
In the 50m Breaststroke category, the Men’s Team delivered a strong performance, securing two podium finishes in the event. Rafa Isip (29.44) led the way with a silver medal, closely followed by Ace Espiritu (30.08), who earned the bronze. Rookie Morie Pabalan (30.39) also turned in a solid performance, placing sixth overall.
For the Women’s Division, the Blue Eagles struggled to keep up with the competition, failing to place on the podium for the event. Maica Garcia (35.23) finished the highest for the Blue and White at fifth place, followed closely by Kirsten Manuel (36.28) at seventh.
Butterfly
Rookie standout TJ Amaro continued his remarkable debut season in the Men’s 100m Butterfly, setting a new UAAP record with a time of 54.80. His performance broke the previous record of 55.44, which was set in 2019. Meanwhile, Veteran Rafael Barreto finished fourth overall with a time of 57.12.
Backstroke
In the Men’s 200m Backstroke, Ivo Enot led the charge with a silver medal finish, clocking in at 2:11.20. Rune Tan followed with a sixth-place finish at 2:15.92, while Ateneo Men’s Team Captain Joshua Del Rio rounded out the finals in eighth place with 2:17.13.
Determined to get back on the board, Sy bagged the Blue Eagles another podium finish with a time of 2:24.21, resulting in a silver medal. However, the Atenean veteran stood alone in the points for the Blue and White in the session.
Relay
The Men’s Swimming Team made waves once again in the Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay, as Amaro, Rafael Barreto, Labanon, and Charles Ticbaen set a new UAAP record with a time of 3:32.58. The quartet’s performance broke the team’s previous record of 3:34.21, established in UAAP Season 87.
Rounding out the events for the day, the Women’s Swimming Team found success as the squad of Maiki Gonzaga, Abbie Duque, Kiandra Lee, and Isa Estacio bagged the bronze medal with a time of 4:17.57.
As they approach the second half of the tournament, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will look to strengthen their championship defense with more podium finishes in the penultimate day of their campaign tomorrow, November 8, at 8:00 AM in the same venue.
Men’s Standings – Points (Gold-Silver-Bronze):
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 213 (6-4-3)
- DLSU Green Tankers – 139
- UP Fighting Maroons – 105
- UST Tigersharks – 76
Women’s Standings – Points (Gold-Silver-Bronze):
- UP Fighting Maroons – 213
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 129 (3-1-3)
- DLSU Lady Tankers – 114
- UST Lady Tigersharks – 86
