By Alder T. Almo of UAAPSports.com
photo contributed by Dan Avila
Los Banos, Laguna – Matinee actor Enchong Dee led De La Salle University (DLSU) to end its six-year drought in the men’s division of the 72nd UAAP swimming championships on Sunday at the Trace Aquatics Center.
Dee, who is a mainstay of ABS-CBN teleserye Katorse, claimed his third Most Valuable Player (MVP) award as he won seven golds for DLSU.
Dee ruled 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).
Dee’s exploits accounted for 63 of DLSU’s 240 points to top the competition after falling short last season. DLSU, the runner up last season, won its first men’s swimming title since 2002.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) improved on its fourth place finish last year as it wound up runner up with 196 points. Last year’s champion UST managed only 189 points to end up third.
In the distaff side, University of the Philippines (UP) swam its way to the title after emerging with 257 points.
The gold medal finishes of veterans Marielle Infantado sa 200-meter butterfly (2:32.80), rookie Claire Adorna sa 50-meter butterfly (32.19) and 4×100-meter medley relay team of Infantado, Andrea Belludo, Queenie Lao at Kristine Lapiz (4:50.10) clinched the title for the UP Lady Maroons.
Season 71 champion ADMU fell short this time with only 233.5 points while DLSU came in third with 137.5 points.
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