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One is dream. Two is destiny. Three is dominance. FOUR is dynasty.
The UP Men's Swimming team once again dominated the UAAP Swimming Competitions winning its fourth straight crown, as it ditched out stellar performances at the final day, ending with 311.5 points; and the Women's Team bounces back from third place at the start of the hostilties to capture another runner-up finish, September 24, at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Pool.
Sophomore Kendrick Uy started out the Maroon Tankers' quest with a record-breaking swim in the 100 Meter Free, erasing the old mark set by Benjamin Uy of DLSU 54.48, with a new time of 53.85. UP's Jeffrey James Laguitao, along with ADMU's Evan Brian Uy took the bronze in that same event clocking at 56.79. Meanwhile, at the ladies' side, in that same event, Kristine Lapiz managed to finish 7th with 1:06.31.
Wilfredo Laysico added another gold in the Men's 200 Meter Fly with a time of 2:16.33. Rod Edgar Blay finished fifth, 2:26.58. Meanwhile, last year's MVP and Athlete of the Year Luica Gaudes Dacanay took home the gold in the Women's event. Jenny Rose Guerrero, Maxin Laurel, and Irene Aprilis Quizon also obtained points, as they finished from fifth to seventh, respectively.
The golden streak ended, but UP still managed to accumulate points at the 100 Meter Back. Raphael Evan Grabador took the silver with the time 1:04.19, while Laysico finished fourth (1:05.88). In the Women's, however, Dacanay claims another gold, clocking 1:09.55. Ma. Anna Isabella Arabejo and Leah Julianni Rodriguez failed to make podium finishes as they ended up just below, fourth and fifth, with 1:13.64 and 1:15.37, respectively.
In the 200 Meter Breast, however, it was 1-2 UP as Erlando James Abilo and Bonnie Byron Sy, took the top spots with 2:39.06 and 2:40.63, respectively. Timothy Gonzales finished fifth, 2:46.90. Mar Joseph Casas was disqualified due to an infraction committed. Rookies Liezel Deligero and Ana Gianina Gonzales managed to add on UP Women's points after finishing 4-5, with 3:07.60 and 3:08.75. Record holder Guerrero suffered the same fate as Casas.
Freshman Ryan Paolo Arabejo finished ahead of the pact in the last individual event of the competitions, Men's 1500 Meter Free, with a time of 17:08.38. Laysico took the bronze, 18:15.05. Another rookie Ian Kenneth Cruz and Alfonso Miguel Marquez, finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
The UP medley relay teams swept the last events of the competition. The UP Men's Team took the gold with 4:20.12 in a come-from-behind swim anchored on Freestyle-leg swimmer Laguitao. The UP Women's team, likewise, managed to push forward to be ahead, and never looked back as they also took the top prize, 5:02.81.
The UP Men's Swimming Team tallied 311.5 total points to obtain their fourth consecutive UAAP crown, duplicating the feat the team last did from 1996-2000; ahead of UST (269), ADMU (140.5) and UE, in that order. The Women's Team walked away with 223 points, only 37 ponits shy from UST's 260, but ahead of ADMU (195) and UE (33); to get another runner-up trophy.
"Malakas talaga yung team mula noon pa (2003). Nagbunga lahat ng hirap sa training. Actually, ang gusto nga namin, mag-'back-to-back', Men's at Women's. Malaki rin inimprove ng ibang schools," exclaimed one of the team's veterans, Timothy Gonzales.
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