University of the Philippines romped off with its first women’s crown in 10 years while De La Salle University splashed its way to the men’s title in the UAAP Season 72 swimming championships over the weekend at the Trace Aquatics Center in Los Baños, Laguna. Veteran Marielle Infantado’s winning feat in the 200-meter butterfly (2:32.80) along with the victory of rookie Claire Adorna in the 50-meter butterfly (32.19) and the 4 x 100-meter relay team of Infantado, Andrea Belludo, Queenie Lao and Kristine Lapiz (4:50.10) sealed the triumph for the Lady Maroons.
The Lady Maroons collected a total of 257 points to dislodge Season 71 champion Ateneo Lady Eagles who settled for second with 233.5 points. Finishing a far third were the De La Salle Lady Archers, who amassed a total of 137.5 points. Ateneo’s Nikkie Santiago emerged as the women’s division MVP, scooping five gold medals, including record-breaking feats in the 800-meter freestyle (9:31.22), 100-meter freestyle (1:00.65), and 400-meter freestyle (4:36.61). She also topped the 200-meter freestyle (2:12.63) and 50-meter freestyle (28.64) events and went home with a silver in the 200-meter backstroke and a bronze in the 400-meter individual medley. Her teammate Denjylie Cordero was adjudged Rookie of the Year after winning five gold medals too - the 200-meter IM (2:31.40), 50-meter breaststroke (35.13), 100-meter breaststroke (1:16.77), 400-meter IM (5:18.55) and 200-meter breaststroke (2:50.60). Cordero added a silver medal in the 200-meter butterfly and a bronze in the 100-meter butterfly to complete a sterling performance for the Lady Maroons, who captured their 15 women’s title overall.
Dee anchors La Salle's win In the men’s division, part-time TV actor and commercial model Enchong Dee anchored the La Salle Green Archers to their first title since 2002.
The Green Archers amassed a total of 240 points to run away with the title over Ateneo (196 points) and last year’s men’s titlist University of Santo Tomas (189 points). Dee was named the men’s MVP for the third straight year after winning seven gold medals: the 800-meter freestyle (9:14.84), 200-meter Individual Medley (2:15.42), 100-meter butterfly (57.38), 50-meter butterfly (26.37), 400-meter Individual Medley (5:01.09), 1,500-meter freestyle (17:39.69) and 200-meter butterfly (2:13.74). It was the 10th men’s title overall for the DLSU tankers, who earlier achieved a three-peat from 2000 to 2002. In the juniors’ division, University of Santo Tomas retained its crown in the girls' division after collecting a total of 323 points. The UST girls edged their rivals from University of the East (219 points) and University of the Philippines Integrated School (116 points). UE’s Ingrid Ilustre was adjudged the girls’ MVP for the second straight year after gold medal harvests in the 800-meter freestyle (10:09.91), 200-meter Individual Medley (2:35.28), 400-meter freestyle (4:54.17), 100-meter butterfly (1:09.49), 200-meter freestyle (2:17.61), 400-meter Individual Medley (5:32.31)and 200-meter butterfly (2:30.77). Ateneo de Manila completed a five-peat in the boys’ division after amassing a total of 375 points against rivals UST (213) and De La Salle Zobel (129). Gian Berino of UST grabbed tournament MVP honors on the strength of his record-breaking performances in three of the four events he ruled.
- GMANews.TV 
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