UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) pulled off a dominating performance the Fighting Maroons still have to accomplish on the basketball court by winning its first men’s athletics overall championship in 36 years in University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 action at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City over the weekend.
Trailing by 39 points entering the midway point of the five-day competition, the Fighting Maroons banked on a 1-2-3 finish in the 400-meter hurdles, another podium sweep in the 800 meters, and gold medals in the 4×100-meter relay and discus throw to seize the crown on Saturday.
With 426 points, UP ended Far Eastern University’s (FEU) eight-year reign with the Tamaraws garnering 262 points for second place. University of the East (UE) finished third with 185 points.
The Maroons claimed their 19th championship overall—and the first since the 1981-82 season.
University of Santo Tomas (UST) ruled the women’s division for the fifth straight year with 338 points, beating FEU by only 11 points in a hotly contested duel for the crown. UP tallied 203 points for third spot.
UE’s young long-distance specialist James Darrel Orduna, who won gold medals in the 10,000 meters and 3,000 meters steeplechase, and 5,000 meters that went with a 1,500 bronze, was the men’s rookie Most Valuable Player (MVP).
UST’s Louielyn Palmatian claimed the women’s MVP honors for the third straight season after emerging victorious in the 800 and 400 and in the 4×400-meter relay. She bagged silver medals in the 200 and 5,000.
In the juniors division, UE completed another championship double in the juniors division. UE had 383 points to achieve a “six-peat” on the boys side, beating UST and Adamson University in the process. Adamson University’s Edgar Carrado was named MVP for winning four gold and one silver medals.
With 465 points, UE defeated National University and UST to annex the girls title for the fourth straight year. Abegail Manzano of the Bullpups was named girls MVP after a four-gold, one-bronze haul.