Dato wins third swimming gold

MANILA, Philippines - Team UAAP-Philippines snatched another gold medal courtesy of Ateneo swimming sensation Hannah Dato as the 17th ASEAN University Games comes to a close today in Palembang, Indonesia.

Dato, the Season 77 swimming MVP, emerged as the country’s best performer after winning her third gold medal in the women’s 200-meter individual medley event.

A former Palarong Pambansa veteran, Dato clocked in a time of 2:21.13 to beat Malaysia’s Cai Lin, who settled for the silver in  2:22.21, while Ressa Dewi of Indonesia took the bronze in 2:22.73.

Entering the final day of competitions, the Filipino student athletes are still in fifth place with 10 golds, 10 silvers and 18 silvers, assuring of the country’s best finish in six years.

Team UAAP-Philippines also bagged two bronze medals courtesy of Ateneo’s Jessie Khing Lacuna in the men’s 200-meter individual medley and the women’s 4x100 meter medley relay team of Dato and her Ateneo teammates Ariana Herranz, Roanne Yu and University of the Philippines’ Denjylie Cordero.

Host Indonesia is still lording it over in the medal tally with 57-68-43, followed by Thailand (50-31-20), Malaysia (32-35-46) and Vietnam (24-14-2).

Team UAAP-Philippines got four golds from swimming and taekwondo, and two from athletics. The Filipinos also won medals in women’s volleyball and diving.