THE UST Male and Female Tigersharks missed the podium in the UAAP Season 87 swimming tournament, winning four gold medals at the Aquatics Center in New Clark City.
In the four-day event that concluded on Nov. 20, the men’s team earned 170 points with one gold, three silvers and six bronzes. Meanwhile, the women’s team accumulated 209 points with three golds, five silvers and six bronzes.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles secured their ninth straight championship in the men’s division, with the DLSU Green Tankers taking home the silver trophy. UP Fighting Maroons bagged third place to round out the podium.
In the women’s team, the Ateneo Blue Eagles achieved a golden double after prevailing in a tight contest with the UP Fighting Maroons, while the DLSU Green Tankers secured third place.
The Tigersharks opened their campaign with a silver medal in the men’s 200-meter medley relay. The quartet of JN Paredes, Gabo Jizmundo, Jules Mirandilla, and Johan Aguilen clocked in at 1:46.30, just a second behind eventual champions Ateneo.
On the women’s side, Alyza Ng secured a podium finish in the 100-meter freestyle, clocking in at 1:18 for a bronze medal.
Ng went on to deliver UST’s first gold, clinching the women’s 50-meter breaststroke in 34.01 seconds, narrowly beating Ateneo standout Anika Isip.
Teammate Shairinne Floriano joined her on the podium with a bronze at 34.62 seconds.
The third day proved fruitful for the Tigersharks. Senior swimmer Mirandilla bagged a silver medal in the Men’s 50-meter Butterfly (23.54 seconds), with teammate Renz Kenneth Santos securing bronze. This performance set the tone for UST’s best day at the meet.
The men’s 4×50-meter freestyle relay team consisting of Hugh Antonio Parto, Jizmundo, Mirandilla, and Aguilen claimed gold with a strong finish at 1 minute and 36.83 seconds.
Ng won another gold in the women’s 50-meter butterfly (28.82 seconds) in a tight race against Season 86 MVP Quendy Fernandez (28.93 seconds).
Floriano added a bronze in the women’s 400-meter individual medley (5:22.50), while the women’s 4×50-meter freestyle relay team (Escarez Honey May, Apin Krisha Joanna, Managuelod Kyla Fam Rikke, and Sarmiento Jan Karylle) captured bronze with a time of 1:56.19
The Tigersharks closed their tourney strong with four more medals on the final day. MVP contender Floriano earned two silvers in the Women’s 200-meter Breaststroke (2:43.39) and 200-meter Butterfly (2:23.48), while teammate Beatrize Mabalay took bronze in the 200-meter Breaststroke (2:44.92).
Ng capped her campaign with another gold medal, winning the Women’s 50-meter Freestyle in 27.17 seconds, outpacing UP captain Camille Buico.
Tigersharks Head coach Cyrus Alcantara praised the team’s improvement from last season, particularly in the point standings.
“We’re still building up, and hopefully, the recruits from the high school team will push through,” Alcantara told The Flame, while acknowledging the departure of veteran swimmer Mirandilla next season.
He also emphasized plans to improve UST’s breaststroke events and lauded the team’s strong chemistry.
“We hope to bring in the graduating seniors from the Junior Tigersharks to sustain this progress,” he added. F
