National tankers power Ateneo’s romp in UAAP

MANILA, Philippines - Dominant swimming team Ateneo stayed on course for another championship double Friday in the UAAP Season 78 competitions at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Pool.

With 246 points, the Blue Eagles opened a big 125-point lead against second-running La Salle as the meet reached the halfway point.

Last season’s MVP Jessie Khing Lacuña won his third gold medal after ruling the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 55.93 seconds, as Ateneo also drew golden finishes from Axel Ngui, Gian Silva and the 4x400-meter freestyle team.

Ngui erased the 400-meter freestyle record set by Lacuña last year (4:04.86) with a new meet mark of 4:04.45.

Silva topped the 50-meter breaststroke event with 29.76 seconds, while the 4x400-meter freestyle team had a time of 3:43.54, which is a new UAAP record.

Surviving the Eagles onslaught at the pool is Green Tanker Neil Puyo, who topped the 200-meter backstroke with a clocking of 2:10.98.

University of the Philippines is in third with 89 points, while University of Santo Tomas has 52 points in fourth.

Ateneo is simply stamping its class in the distaff side with 223 points behind reigning MVP Hannah Dato, who also bagged her third gold in the season, recording a winning time of 1:02.39 in the 100-meter butterfly.

Also shining for the Lady Eagles were last year’s top rookie Ariana Herranz in the 200-meter backstroke (2:26.58) and Kim Uy in the 400-meter freestyle (4:40.44).

The Lady Maroons are in second with 178 points, with Joy Rogers winning the gold in the 50-meter breaststroke (54.38) and the 4x400-meter freestyle squad (4:15.75).

La Salle is in third spot with 74 points followed by UST’s 56 points in fourth place.

In the juniors division, titleholder Ateneo has 221 points to lead the way in the boys side, while reigning girls champion UST is still on top with 194 points.