RP-UAAP wins two swim golds

The Philippines scooped two gold and as many silver and bronze medals at the start of the swimming competitions of the 2006 Asean University Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, over the weekend.

University of the Philippines (UP) tankers Kendrick Uy topped the 100 meters freestyle for men and Luica Dacanay ruled the 100 meters backstroke for women for the Philippines’ two gold medals in the biennial competition organized by the Asean University Sports Council.

The council, composed of university sports councils of the Asean member countries, was established in 1980. The Philippines, represented by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), hosted the event in 2002 in Manila. Junjun Capistrano of Ateneo accompanied the athletes in Hanoi.

Ateneo’s Michaelmars Danila (100 freestyle men) and the 4x100 meters freestyle relay team of Gem Ong (Ateneo), Liane Marquez (UST), Dacanay and Nikki Santiago (Ateneo) accounted for the silver medals for the UAAP team whose participation is backed by Speedo and Hapee Toothpaste.

Evan Grabador of UP and Marquez clinched bronze in the 100 meters backstroke.

Thailand led the medals’ race with 4-2-0 gold-silver-bronze, followed by RP-UAAP 2-2-2, Indonesia 1-2-3 and Vietnam 0-1-2. Malaysia, Singapore and Laos have yet to win a medal.

A RP-UAAP selection among athletes from Ateneo, University of the East and Far Eastern University drew Brunei, 2-2, but lost to Vietnam (0-2) and Indonesia (1-3).