THE UST Tigersharks finally broke a 19-year title curse by drowning Season 71 host University of the Philippines’ “five-peat” championship aspirations en route to UAAP swimming redemption last Sept. 25 to 28 at the Trace Aquatic Complex in Los Baños, Laguna.
The España-based tankers flooded the medal board with three golds, eight silvers and eight bronzes for a 223-point victory to comfortably overtake De La Salle University which chalked up a second-best 211 markers, way ahead of UP’ third-place tally of 176 points.
“They knew they had it in them to win the title ever since,” coach Cyrus Alcantara told the Varsitarian. “Only this time, they became more driven to succeed.”
Samuel Alcos led the Tigersharks’ pool-charge with two golds capped by best records in the 100-meter (1:08:23) and 200-meter (2:31:28) breaststroke. Alcos completed his Season 71 stint with a silver in the 50-meter breaststroke (31:88).
Miguel Carandang swam for a gold-silver-bronze finish in the 50-meter (31:48) and 100-meter (1:10:64) breaststroke, and 200-meter individual medley (2:14:99).
Francis Villagante added a silver and a bronze to UST’s cause in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:09:32) and 400-meter individual medley (5:30:75).
Ahli Frigillana pocketed three bronzes for UST in the 100-meter (1:05:44) and 200-meter backstroke (2:18:51), and 200-meter butterfly (2:17:39).
Kristian Libat got his share of the limelight with a silver in the 200-meter butterfly after registering 2:16:75 while Januario Nazareno took the bronze in the 400-meter freestyle via a 4:27:24 clocking.
The Tigersharks also reaped silvers in the 200-meter medley (1:56:36), 800-meter freestyle (8:55.74) and 400-meter medley relays (4:23.25) and bronzes for the 200-meter freestyle (1:47.17) and 400-meter freestyle relays (3:54.41), respectively.
Fallen dynasty
While the Tigersharks celebrated their triumph, the “four-peat” champion Female Tigersharks succumbed to their worse defeat in recent years, sliding to third place with 172 points. Ateneo de Manila University notched 216 points to wrest the UAAP crown from UST while UP settled for third with 213 points.
“It was unfortunate that two of the female swimmers had injured shoulders, while some were not feeling well at all,” Alcantara explained.
The drawbacks notwithstanding, the Female Tigersharks still managed to cop a gold in the 200-meter breaststroke courtesy of Edzen Dinglazen who touched the wall at 2:52:47. Dinglazan also bagged a pair of silvers in the 100-meter (1:20:58) and 50-meter (36:30) breaststroke events.
Former UAAP gold-medalist Josephine Pilapil settled for a silver in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:56:11) and a bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:22:04).
Leyann Ramos finished second in the 100-meter butterfly (1:09:28) while Liane Marquez took the bronze in the 100-meter butterfly (1:09:51).
Meanwhile, the Female Tigersharks topped the 400-meter medley relay (4:56:29) snared bronzes in the 200-meter freestyle relay (2:00:65) and 200-meter medley relay (2:15:17).
“It was generally a good outcome, but we could have done better had the Female Tigersharks got the championship as well. There will be definitely more intense training in preparation for Season 72,” Alcantara said.
UP DID GET THEIR FIFTH STRAIGHT TITLE before this year. PLEASE CHECK your facts. Thank you.
UP took home the title from 2003-2007. That is, FIVE YEARS.