The FEU Lady Tamaraws and UP Fighting Maroons returned to the top of UAAP athletics for Season 87, while UE and UST broke through in the juniors’ ranks.
The FEU Lady Tamaraws and UP Fighting Maroons reclaimed the women’s and men’s titles respectively at the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Athletics Championships held at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
The Lady Tamaraws scored 84 points on the final day, finishing with 397.5 points to claim their league-leading 25th UAAP women’s championship and their first since Season 81. UST finished in second place with 291.5 points, followed by UP with 195 points.
FEU head coach Ross Hamero expressed her satisfaction with her team’s performance, saying, “It was an awesome feeling kasi alam naman natin na mahirap makuha ‘yung championship. Sa recruitment pa lang, then sa injuries ng players. Kaya it was so satisfying, especially hindi ko inaakala na ‘yung lamang namin is nasa 100 points.”
“Bilib ako sa mga bata talaga. I’m amazed sa pinakita nila kasi noon talaga para silang baby. Pero ngayon, nakikita mo as Tamaraws, nanunuwag talaga sila,” the long-time mentor added.
UP, meanwhile, fended off a late challenge from the FEU Tamaraws to end the competition with 290 points in the men’s division. This secured UP’s 21st men’s athletics championship and just their second title for Season 87 following their recent triumph in women’s badminton.
Ed Deliña set the tone for UP’s championship run by winning the men’s hammer throw with a throw of 49.41 meters, well ahead of UST’s John Nicholan Pangan (42.81 meters) and Jhon Laurenze Ballelos (42.08 meters).
Josh Buenavista claimed silver for UP in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:31.67, just behind the eventual Most Valuable Player, FEU’s Alfrence Braza, who finished in 9:30.93. National University’s Renz Cruz took third with a time of 9:37.44.
University of Santo Tomas took two gold medals on the final day, winning the shot put with Jamela de Asis and the 100-meter hurdles with Lyka Miravalles, finishing in second place with 291 points.
De Asis dominated the shot put with a throw of 12.78 meters, well ahead of FEU’s Mary Jean Maloy-on (11.82 meters) and UP’s Aina Masangkay (11.05 meters). Miravalles won the hurdles with a time of 14.68 seconds, narrowly edging De La Salle University’s Abcd Agamanos, who finished second at 14.69 seconds. UST’s Justine Mae Candoy placed third with a time of 14.96 seconds.
The Fighting Maroons narrowly defeated De La Salle University for the final podium spot with 195 points, despite the latter’s strong finish. DLSU’s quartet of Hanna Jandra Delotavo, Jessel Lumapas, Erica Ruto, and eventual back-to-back MVP Bernalyn Bejoy set a new UAAP record in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:47.37, breaking their own record of 3:50.33 set on December 4, 2022. FEU (3:51.43) and UST (3:57.47) finished second and third, while UP’s sixth-place finish (4:08.07) completed the podium.
FEU also claimed the gold in the 110-meter hurdles, with Timothy Okolo finishing in 14.58 seconds, ahead of University of the East’s Edgie Garbin, UST’s John Celestino Romero, and FEU’s Joseph Antiola III in a photo finish. Garbin and Romero took second and third, leaving Antiola and the Tamaraws off the podium.
Needing a win in the final event, the 4×400-meter relay, the FEU quartet of Timothy Okolo, Andreas Womack, Gervickson Labora, and Jazzpeer Arcenal pushed hard but came up short, settling for bronze with a time of 3:17.23.
The gold in the 4×400-meter relay went to NU, with John Lloyd Cabalo, Khenneth Simtim, John Masuhol, and Orly Orongan clocking a new league record of 3:14.00. This new record broke the previous mark of 3:17.04 set by UP in 2018.
Despite the record-breaking relay performance, the overall championship returned to UP.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga athletes natin na binigay nila ‘yung kanilang 100 percent, ‘yung dedication nila, and ‘yung sacrifices,” said UP head coach Rio Dela Cruz. “Hindi namin ‘to inaasahan pero ito naman talaga ‘yung goal namin. Before mag-start, sinabi ko na sa kanila na, ‘I think we have a chance if you give your all.’ Alam namin na nag-prepare naman kami and i-enjoy lang nila. And true enough, nangyari naman ‘to.”
UE and UST’s well-deserved breakthrough
Over in the juniors’ ranks, the UST Growling Tigers snapped a 16-year title drought in the boys’ division, while the UE Junior Lady Warriors celebrated its first-ever girls’ athletics title.
UST finished the boys’ athletic meet with 404 points to clinch the title, followed by Adamson with 326 points, and UE with 324 points.
The Aiso brothers Aime and Gian Carlo led UST’s charge by taking gold and silver in the 3000-meter steeplechase, while the team’s final gold came in dramatic fashion in the 4×400-meter relay.
Initially settling for silver, the squad was elevated to gold after UE was disqualified for a lane violation. UST clocked in at 3:25.66, while Adamson finished second at 3:30.13. Ateneo de Manila University rounded out the podium with a time of 3:52.00.
“Di ko ma-explain kasi ang tagal na naming gustong makamit ang championship, at sa wakas, nakuha na rin namin,” said UST head coach Emerson Obiena. “Mas malalakas ‘yung mga atleta namin dati, pero siguro hindi lang talaga namin time noon. Ngayon, mas bata ang mga atleta, pero lahat sila palaban. Sa tiyaga, nakuha na rin namin ang korona pabalik sa España.”
The Junior Lady Warriors, meanwhile, dethroned the UST Junior Female Tracksters in a tightly contested competition. Even more remarkable, UST entered this season as back-to-back champions, only to be dethroned by UE for their maiden trophy.
UE amassed 441.5 points to UST’s 425.5, marking a triumphant return to the top after dominating from Seasons 78 to 81 when the girls’ division was still a demonstration event, led by standout Jenny Rose Rosales.
This time, it was Jeralyn Rodriguez who spearheaded UE’s campaign. Rodriguez, crowned MVP, bagged five golds and two silvers in a phenomenal performance.
“Masaya po ako kasi una (at huli) ko na itong laro sa UAAP, at napasaya ko po ang mga coaches. Sa wakas, nabalik na po ang korona sa Recto,” shared Rodriguez, a four-time record holder.
UST fought valiantly, securing two gold medals on the final day. Jamaica Kate Saligan clocked 15.25 seconds to win the 100-meter hurdles, narrowly defeating teammate Ma. Lhynnette Libranda (15.47 seconds). National University Nazareth School’s (NUNS) Jean Albaciete took bronze with 16.14 seconds.
UST also triumphed in the 4×400-meter relay, as the team of Ashley Tabad, Saligan, Franceine Rosario, and Lea Ordinario clinched gold with a time of 3:54.01. UE’s relay squad settled for silver at 3:56.07, while Adamson University took bronze with 4:25.91.
Adamson placed third overall with 293 points, led by Rhea Antonette Lego and Rookie of the Year Erika Dorado. Lego set a new meet record in the Girls’ Long Jump, leaping 5.27 meters to surpass UE’s Daniela Desepeda’s 2017 mark.
Dorado dominated the 2000-meter steeplechase with a time of 7:46.34, followed by teammate Nene Mianagua (8:01.01). UST’s Lyke Mae Raterta settled for bronze with 8:01.09.
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.