Here are your UAAP Season 88 Athletics champions!
National University reclaimed the title it had ceded last year, pulling through the last three days of intense competition to capture the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Athletics crown on Sunday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium.
The joy of finally securing the elusive crown in Season 86 had faded after several key members of that championship squad graduated, but the Bulldogs’ determination to regain the title was evident, and they were rewarded at the conclusion of the championships.
At the end of the compressed meet, NU amassed 298.5 points for its second championship in three years, marking the school’s second UAAP title this season after its Women’s Chess victory.
“We really worked hard for this season, kasi nga ‘yung pangarap namin noon na mag-back-to-back champion nung nakaraang taon ay naudlot kasi may mga players na hindi nakalaro kasi sa eligibility at dahil nga sa injuries. This year, medyo maganda at walang injuries; dinasal namin ‘to kay Lord na sana maging 100 percent kami para maging strong enough kami to regain the championship,” said head coach Fernan Dagasdas.
With key veterans back in full health and bolstered by prized recruits from school transfers and the grassroots program, the Bulldogs recalibrated after lagging behind on the first day. Once they took the lead on Saturday, there was no turning back. NU collected 100 points on the final day, powered by golds in the day’s opening event, the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and the championships’ final event, the decathlon.
Underlining their dominance, three Bulldogs swept the steeplechase podium. Noli Torre led with 9:28.24, followed by 10,000 meters champion Rico Jay Patanao at 9:39.93, and Renz Cruz with 9:40.21.
Larry Taripe Jr. then sealed NU’s return to the throne with a flourish, closing out the grueling decathlon with 5,779 points, including a victory in the final 1,500 meters stage. FEU’s Ronel Juntilla and Rolly Royo Jr. finished second and third with 5,522 and 5,444 points, respectively.
Co-MVP Russel Ricaforte dominated the discus with a new meet record of 52.62 meters, breaking his own mark of 47.80 meters from last season. Ricaforte, who also won the shot put on the meet’s first day, shared the top student-athlete honor with UST’s Hokett Delos Santos, who claimed the 110-meter hurdles in 14.80 seconds.
With points coming from various events, the championship ultimately went to the hungry and determined Bulldogs.
“Lagi ko lang silang mini-meeting, meron akong mga tao, bawat event, na mag-ga-guide at magtuturo sa kanila para walang lapses. Naging maganda naman ‘yung nangyari, at sa tulong ng dasal talaga. Very strong ang blessings at guidance ni God samin,” said Dagasdas, who hopes to build another strong program for the Gold and Blue.
FEU continues to raise the bar
Far Eastern University made a strong push over the past three days to ultimately dominate the competition and claim its league-best 26th UAAP Collegiate Women’s Athletics Championship.
Like their journey toward redemption in Season 87, the Lady Tamaraws focused on regaining momentum and, as a result, captured the crown in this tournament, despite trailing the University of Santo Tomas after Day 1.
FEU not only recovered from its slow start but went on to dominate the field with a massive 373.5 points, securing a record-setting title and the university’s first championship of Season 88.
“You know that FEU has a legacy, di ba? And pressure rin on my part kasi isa ako sa mga coaches na may longest championship streak dito sa women’s category. Sabi ko sa sarili ko na next season na much better pa; not only with the points, but also ‘yung mga special awards na pwede naming makuha,” said long-time head coach Ross Hamero, reflecting on the team’s mindset after regaining the crown last year.
True to Coach Hamero’s goals, the Lady Tamaraws not only dominated the overall standings but also secured both the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards.
Edna Magtubo, the second-year standout from Mandurriao National High School in Iloilo City, who had won two golds in the previous two days in record-breaking fashion in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, claimed silver in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Sunday afternoon with a time of 11:14.39, emerging as this season’s MVP.
Adding to FEU’s championship milestone was the double-gold performance of rookie Jecel Vivas in the two hurdle races. Usually held on separate days, the 18-year-old from Tanauan, Batangas, first captured the 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.19 before taking the 100-meter hurdles in 14.39 seconds. Vivas capped off her freshman year with a well-deserved Rookie of the Year plum.
Fellow Lady Tamaraw Marilou Caduyac (1:03.67) and De La Salle University’s Hannah Delotavo (1:04.28) finished second and third, respectively, in the longer event, while UST’s Lyka Miravalles (14.66) and DLSU’s Abcd Agamanos (14.68) completed the podium in the shorter race.
Rica Mae Balderama added another gold for the back-to-back champions in the long jump with 5.86 meters, ahead of Adamson University’s Diana Hurano (5.65 meters) and Agamanos (5.56 meters).
As the birthplace of some of the Philippines’ greatest women athletes, FEU inspired Hamero to maintain consistency at the helm.
“Sabi ko talaga na kapag ako nag-coach, itutuloy ko ‘yung legacy because sila Elma Muros, Edna Punelas, and, lalo na, our Sprint Queen, Lydia De Vega, is from FEU, kaya ang taas na kaagad ng standard at legacy na iniwan nila. So, it was pressure at the same time, na I have to maintain that legacy,” said Hamero, a former champion Lady Tamaraw herself.
UST defends crown
Over in the high school ranks, University of Santo Tomas continued to rule the High School Boys’ Athletics championships after a successful title defense. The Junior Tiger Tracksters secured their seventh-overall title in the boys’ division.
UST tallied a total of 388.5 points to secure their sixth championship in Boys High School Athletics, while Adamson University claimed the silver medal with 311 points. National University–Nazareth School finished third this season with 305 points.
Leading the Junior Tiger Tracksters was Ivan Cabanda, who delivered a record-breaking performance in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking 52.99 seconds to surpass the long-standing record of 54.78 seconds set by Jaime Mejia of University of the Philippines Integrated School on February 2, 2018, in Pasig.
Cabanda’s remarkable run earned him the gold medal, followed by Julius Valdenaro of NUNS, who took silver with 55.03 seconds, and Jericho Cantil of the University of the East, who claimed bronze with 55.35 seconds.
The UST standout continued his dominance by anchoring the team in the 4×400-meter relay, securing his fourth gold medal of the tournament. Alongside teammates Novie Masangcap, Jydan Lumantas, and Michael Sunico, the Junior Golden Tracksters stormed to victory with a record-breaking time of 3:20.24.
The squad shattered the previous mark of 3:22.09, set during Season 86 by the Adamson quartet of Hussein Lorana, Emmanuel Morales, Matthew Angeles, and Janzen Dela Cruz on November 26, 2023. NUNS finished second with 3:24.10, while Adamson rounded out the podium in third place at 3:24.93.
“Kakaiba tong batch na mga student-athletes na dumating samin. Maganda ‘yung samahan nila tapos meron silang initiative,” shared co-head coach Emerson Obiena.
“Internally, they are really motivated compared sa dati. I think nag-rub off ‘yung winning mentality nung mga unang batch na sinundan nila.”
Adamson breaks through
Meanwhile, Adamson University ended their Season 88 run in the history books after claiming their first-ever High School Girls’ Athletics championship.
Following the University of the East Junior Lady Warriors’ historic title run in Season 87, it was now the Lady Baby Falcons’ turn to soar to glory.
Despite finishing Day 3 without a gold medal, their consistent performances and a total of 180 points kept them in strong contention heading into the final day. The Baby Falcons’ impressive haul of 10 silver medals proved crucial in securing their first overall crown in the championships.
Demonstrating their hunger for a maiden UAAP title, Adamson finally struck gold twice on the fourth and final day of competition.
In the 2,000-meter steeplechase, Erika Dorado powered to victory with a time of 7:54.52, earning Adamson’s first gold medal. Her teammate Nene Mianagua followed with a bronze finish of 8:15.41, while UE’s Shaira Fantiliaga clocked 7:59.43 to claim silver.
Building on that momentum, Marjorie Ragudos delivered Adamson’s second gold in the girls’ high jump, clearing 1.58 meters. UST’s Rica Clavel (1.50) narrowly missed out by 8 centimeters, taking silver, while her teammate Liana Ascan completed the podium with bronze at 1.45 meters.
When the dust settled, Adamson amassed a total of 457 points to clinch the overall championship. University of Santo Tomas successfully defended its silver podium finish with 446.5 points, while last year’s titleholder UE settled for bronze with 387 points.
“Naiiyak ako sa sobrang saya dahil first time ito, ‘di ko aakalain na makukuha namin ‘yung first overall champion namin para sa girls,” shared head coach Ronald Corot, reflecting on the Baby Falcons’ historic triumph.“Nagbunga ‘yung mga pinaghirapan ng mga bata, yung sakripisyo nila. Nagpapasalamat kami sa Adamson University dahil sila nagbigay ng support samin at sa kung ano ang kailangan namin.”