THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) capped a storybook hosting of UAAP Season 88, reaffirming its dominance in the league after capturing both the seniors’ and juniors’ general championships.
UST secured its ninth straight seniors’ division title and eighth consecutive juniors’ division crown, further cementing its status as the winningest school in UAAP history with 49 seniors’ championships and 24 juniors’ championships overall.
UST amassed 356 points in the seniors’ division after capturing 13 championships, six silver medals, and two bronze medals across various sports.
The total surpassed last season’s 346-point output and placed UST 68 points ahead of runner-up De La Salle University, which finished with 288 points anchored on three gold medals, six silvers, and seven bronzes.
The University of the Philippines (UP) placed third with 263 points anchored on two golds, eight silvers, and three bronzes.
Completing the standings were Ateneo de Manila University with 260 points, National University (NU) with 232, Far Eastern University (FEU) with 208, Adamson University with 129, and the University of the East (UE) with 77.
The UAAP general championship is determined through a cumulative points system, with schools earning points based on their placements in each sport. Champions receive 15 points, first runners-up earn 12, and second runners-up get 10. Teams finishing fourth to eighth receive 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1, respectively.
Golden finish
UST won championships in men’s standard and blitz chess, women’s 5-on-5 and 3×3 basketball, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, men’s tennis, men’s table tennis, and men’s and women’s judo.
In November, the Male Woodpushers delivered UST’s first championship of the season on Oct. 19, joining FEU and DLSU as the only programs in league history to win five straight men’s standard chess titles.
On April 12, the Male Woodpushers added the blitz chess crown after defeating FEU.
The Female Woodpushers, who placed sixth in the previous two seasons, improved to fourth place in standard chess this year. They later settled for fifth in blitz chess after losing to Ateneo in a tiebreaker.
The Male Paddlers extended their dynasty after clinching their sixth straight men’s table tennis championship on Nov. 21.
Meanwhile, the Tiger Sands completed a golden double as the men’s team captured its seventh consecutive title, while the women’s squad reclaimed the crown after last season’s setback.
In women’s basketball, the Growling Tigresses completed redemption runs in both the 5-on-5 and 3×3 tournaments. UST dethroned defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs in the 5-on-5 finals before overpowering FEU in the women’s 3×3 title game.
The Male Tennisters also restored their dominance, securing their 17th UAAP championship — the most in league history — after defeating UP on March 29.
On April 12, the Tiger and Lady Judokas completed another golden double in the seniors’ division. The men’s squad captured its second straight title, while the women’s team snapped a four-year championship drought.
Near-title finishes
UST claimed silver medals in women’s table tennis, men’s and women’s taekwondo and women’s athletics.
The Lady Paddlers failed to defend their title after falling to the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the finals on Nov. 21.
In athletics, the Female Tracksters repeated as silver medalists after finishing with four golds, three silvers, and three bronzes. The Male Tracksters, meanwhile, narrowly missed the podium after placing fourth.
The Tiger Jins improved in the kyorugi tournament, finishing as first runners-up behind NU after placing third in Season 87.
Bronze medal campaigns
UST’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams, men’s swimming squad, women’s tennis team, women’s softball team, men’s football team, and women’s fencing team all earned bronze medals in Season 88.
The Golden Spikers and Golden Tigresses wrapped up their campaigns with bronze finishes.
UST’s men’s volleyball squad was swept by eventual champion NU in the semifinals, extending its championship drought to 15 years.
Meanwhile, the Golden Tigresses, under returning head coach Shaq Delos Santos, fell short of a finals berth after yielding to NU in the stepladder semifinals on May 2. The season also marked the final collegiate campaign of team captain Detdet Pepito, who spent 11 years in the UST program.
In swimming, the Male Tigersharks returned to the podium for the first time since 2019 after tallying one gold, five silvers and five bronzes.
The Female Tigersharks, however, missed the podium for the second straight season despite collecting two golds, four silvers and five bronzes to finish fourth overall.
In men’s football, the Golden Booters fell short of the Finals after losing their do-or-die semifinal against the FEU Tamaraws on Feb. 13, settling for bronze after placing fourth last season.
The Female Tennisters, who won their first championship since Season 80 last year, also settled for bronze after bowing to the UP Fighting Maroons in the semifinals on March 15.
Meanwhile, the Tiger Softbelles finished with bronze for the fourth consecutive season after losing to UP on March 28 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
In fencing, the Lady Fencers, who entered the season as defending champions, finished third after collecting two silver and two bronze medals. The Tiger Fencers, meanwhile, missed the podium for the second straight season after placing fourth.
Falling short
The Growling Tigers in both the 5-on-5 and 3×3 tournaments, along with the Golden Sox, Tiger Shuttlers, Lady Shuttlers, and Lady Booters, all failed to reach the podium this season.
In men’s basketball, the Growling Tigers, led by graduating stars Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao, reached the Final Four but settled for fourth place after losing to UP in the semifinals for the second straight year on Dec. 3.
Excluded from the general championship tally are the cheerdance and streetdance competitions, where the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and Prime finished fifth and second, respectively.
Juniors’ division
In the juniors’ division, UST won 13 championships, six silver medals and two bronze medals in Season 88.
The University recorded golden doubles in standard chess, swimming, beach volleyball, table tennis, and judo, while girls’ basketball, boys’ athletics, and girls’ fencing also produced championships.
The Junior Male and Lady Woodpushers each captured their first-ever standard chess titles in 34 years, while the Junior Lady Fencers dethroned 11-time defending champion UE to secure their maiden crown.
The Junior Tigersharks completed their 10th golden double — the most in UAAP history.
Meanwhile, the Junior Tiger Paddlers and Junior Lady Paddlers secured their third straight golden double on Nov. 21, while the Junior Tiger Sands captured back-to-back titles.
UST’s high school squads earned silver medals in 3×3 basketball, boys’ blitz chess, boys’ taekwondo, boys’ football, and girls’ athletics. The Junior Lady Woodpushers delivered UST’s lone bronze medal in girls’ blitz chess.
FEU-Diliman finished second in the juniors’ general championship race with 200 points, followed by Ateneo in third with 184 points.
Season 88 will conclude on Friday, May 15, at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. Season 89 will be hosted by FEU.
