THE UST Junior Male Tigersharks lost their title while the Junior Female Tigersharks settled for second place anew in the UAAP Season 81 swimming tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex last Nov. 8 to 11.
The boys’ squad garnered a total of 338 points with a 4-10-8 gold-silver-bronze medal tally while girls’ team had a 9-4-3 medal haul for 319 points.
De La Salle University took the overall championship in the boys’ and girls’ divisions with 409.5 and 398 points, respectively.
UST’s Shiloh Bandeling, Orlando Reyes, Sam Braga and Angelo de la Cruz set a new UAAP record with a 8:24.86 output in the boys’ 800-meter freestyle relay to take the gold on the first day of competitions.
Season 81 girls’ Most Valuable Player Camille Buico topped her previous career-high after clocking 1:03.91 in the 100-meter butterfly for the UAAP record.
Junior Female Tigersharks Kyla Managuelod, Anna Articona, Jade Guevrra and Alexandra Bonite also beat UST’s previous record in the 400-meter freestyle relay after a 4:16.64 output on the first day.
Bonite, Articona, Sofia Canlas and Julianne Javier then broke the record in the 200-meter freestyle relay after recording 1:54.47.
In the seniors’ division, the Male Tigersharks capped the tournament at third place with one silver and three bronze medals, while their female counterparts settled for fourth with three bronze medals.
Christian Anor captured the Male Tigersharks’ lone silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke on the last day of the competition. He also grabbed bronze in the 200-meter freestyle event.
Male Tigersharks Kevin Datum, Jay Cabulit, Terence Buico and Renz Gawidan clocked 1:51.52 in the 200-meter medley relay to cop bronze on the first day.
Jux Keaton Solita, Remart Cuaton, Lyndon Herrera and Reynaldo Cullentas also finished third after clinching 8:17.75 in the 800-meter freestyle relay.
“The team fought hard and mas maganda ang performance nila ngayon kumpara sa previous season kasi mas maraming nakapasok sa finals ngayon pero hindi dapat maging complacent sa ganoon lang, dapat next time, madala nila ‘yong momentum hanggang dulo,” UST head coach Cyrus Alcantara said.
In women’s play, Female Tigersharks Clinyl Chuateco, Christian Vallejos, Angelica Samelo and Isabelle Gubat nabbed bronze in the 800-meter freestyle relay after registering 9:58.27.
Mariel Sorolla notched the team’s second bronze after clocking 10:15.55 in the 800-meter freestyle event.
Chuateco, Vallejos, Samelo and Kathleen Parana grabbed another bronze in the 400-meter freestyle relay event on the second day of the competition.
Powerhouse Ateneo de Manila University reigned anew in both divisions with 530 and 475 points in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively.
UST still has the most number of UAAP swimming championships with 32 and 30 titles in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively.
