FOR THE first time since 2019, the UST Male Tigersharks sealed a podium finish after copping bronze in the UAAP Season 88 swimming tournament on Sunday, Nov. 9, at the New Clark City Aquatics Centre in Capas, Tarlac.
The Male Tigersharks tallied 224 points on the back of one gold, five silvers and five bronzes, edging out the UP Fighting Maroons to capture third place in the men’s division.
UST opened strong with 39 points behind two silver medals. Earning early podium finishes in the men’s 200-meter medley and 800m freestyle.
Despite trailing on the second day, the España swimmers surged in the final stretch to overtake the Diliman-based squad, maintaining a 10-point lead at the end of the competition.
Rookie Reinelle Trinidad bagged a silver finish in the men’s 100m butterfly, clocking in at 55.84 seconds.
UST’s rookie duo of Zach Belen and Marcus de Kam delivered a 2-3 finish in the 50m freestyle at 24.03 and 24.12 seconds, respectively.
Belen added a bronze in the men’s 50, backstroke (27.29 seconds) while Ivan Radovan chipped in another bronze in the men’s 200m butterfly at 2:13.44.
JM Arca capped UST’s men’s campaign with a silver in the men’s 200m breaststroke, clocking 2:25.50.
Meanwhile, the Female Tigersharks failed to return to the podium, repeating their fourth-place finish from last year with 204 points behind two golds, four silvers and three bronzes.
Shairrine Floriano spearheaded the Female Tigersharks with 34 points on Day 1, clocking in 2:26.59 in the women’s 200m freestyle to clinch silver.
Floriano struck gold on Day 2, topping the women’s 100m butterfly at 1:03.56 and adding a bronze in the women’s 50m breaststroke at 34.02 seconds.
She capped her standout run with another gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke at 2:45.12, ahead of Ateneo’s Maica Garcia at 2:46.20 and DLSU’s Milcah Mina at 2:50.16.
Rookie Isha Villa added a silver in the women’s 50m backstroke at 31.71 seconds, narrowly edging UP’s Kate Dequina at 31.74.
The relay quartet of Poks Sarmiento, Roz Encarnacion, Ena Subida and Kyla Managuelod also secured bronze in the 400m medley relay, finishing at 4:50.10.
However, the Female Tigersharks’ efforts were not enough to close the distance with the 222 points of the eventual second runner-up DLSU Lady Tankers.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles extended their dominance with a commanding 10th consecutive men’s title with 471 points, while the UP Fighting Maroons reclaimed the women’s crown with 472 points. F
