UAAP Season 87 General Champions University of Santo Tomas. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — University of Santo Tomas has officially ruled over its UAAP counterparts for the eighth straight season.
The España-based institution, after its Season 87 campaign, was crowned as the league’s general champion on Tuesday during the league’s closing ceremony at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
It was a fitting ending for UST as the school will also serve as Season 88 hosts later this year with the theme: "Strength in Motion, Hope in Action."
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“Masaya ang UST, ang buong community ng UST. It only shows the continued dominance ng sports program namin sa UAAP,” said Fr. Rodel Cancancio, OP, Director of the UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, as his school clinched its eighth collegiate general championship and ninth in the high school level.
“It will continue to serve as a challenge for all of us to do better next season at alam ko namang ganoon din ang ibang UAAP schools,” he added of UST which earned 346 points in college and 313 points in high school.
The school collected eight collegiate championships this season — ruling men's beach volleyball, men's chess, women's tennis, men's and women's table tennis, poomsae, men's judo, and women's fencing. These victories led to their record-extending 48th general title.
Overall, the Growling Tigers reached the podium in 24 out of 31 collegiate events, compiling an impressive haul of eight golds, seven silvers, and nine bronzes.
Even more dominant were the Tiger Cubs, who ruled the high school division with 11 championships: boys’ and girls’ 5-on-5 basketball, girls’ 3x3 basketball, boys’ volleyball, boys’ beach volleyball, boys’ and girls’ table tennis, boys’ and girls’ swimming, boys’ football, and boys’ athletics—sealing their 24th general title in the juniors division.
The Tiger Cubs medaled in 23 of 24 events, securing 11 golds, 11 silvers, and one bronze in a show of remarkable consistency and dominance.
Season 87 host University of the Philippines placed second in the collegiate division with 269 points, while De La Salle University followed closely with 261 points. In the high school division, De La Salle-Zobel ranked second with 167 points, edging out National University Nazareth School, which garnered 155 points for third place.
Individual honors were also given at the closing ceremony, with Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino of Far Eastern University-Diliman and Chelsea Tacay of UST named the UAAP Season 87 Individual Athletes of the Year.
Canino, a 17-year-old chess prodigy, led the Lady Baby Tamaraws to their third straight girls' chess title while earning her second consecutive Most Valuable Player award. She is also the reigning U-18 National Age Group champion.
Tacay, on the other hand, powered the UST Jins to back-to-back titles in poomsae and also captured her second straight MVP recognition. She is a member of the Philippine national team.
Three athletes were named UAAP Season 87 Team Athletes of the Year: Liam Salangsang of FEU-Diliman, David Andrei Dungo of La Salle, and Kacey dela Rosa of Ateneo de Manila University.
Salangsang and Dungo steered their schools to the 3x3 basketball titles in the high school and collegiate divisions, respectively, and both were named MVPs of the tournament. Their efforts also proved crucial in FEU-Diliman’s bronze finish and La Salle’s silver medal in 5-on-5 basketball.
Dela Rosa, meanwhile, earned MVP honors in both 5-on-5 and 3x3 basketball, and led Ateneo to the three-a-side championship. She will also represent the country as part of the Gilas Pilipinas Women's Under-23 3x3 squad.
The league also recognized this season’s UAAP athlete-scholars of the year in both the high school and collegiate divisions, namely: James Paulo Javinal and Shaina Nitura of Adamson; Liaa Margarette Amoguis and Joaquin Custodio of Ateneo; PI Durden Wangkay and Shane Francine Lugay of La Salle; Liam Salangsang and Susan Ramadan of FEU; Vilmarie Toos and Clarence Sarza of NU; Nina Canlas and Leah Jane Lopez of UE; Olympia Ducanes and Hye Jun Lee of UP; and Iana Sotaridona and Keziah Chua of UST.
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