La Salle tankers end long drought
Chloe Isleta clocked 30.07 seconds in the backstroke event for a new UAAP record and 26.49 seconds in the freestyle sprint. Photo courtesy of UAAP
De La Salle University banked on the superstar pair of Xiandi Chua and Chloe Isleta to quench a 19-year title drought after dominating the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women's swimming tournament at Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Complex in Malate, Manila on Sunday.
The Lady Green Tankers collected 418 points to call themselves champions once again since winning it all in 2003 all thanks to the impressive showings of their prized swimmers.
Chua registered four new UAAP records on her way to collecting six gold medals and one silver on top of bagging the much-deserved Most Valuable Player award after closing her maiden run with 102 points.
Chua snagged gold in the 100m freestyle after setting a record of 57.48 seconds, she then set a new 200m individual medley UAAP standard of 2:20.33 shattering the 2:21.66 of Ateneo de Manila University's Hannah Dato in 2014 for her second mint.
Chua also reset the 2014 record of Dato in 200m freestyle of 2:07.87 with a 2:06.73 clocking before breaking Dato's 2015 400m IM record of 5:03.71 with a 5:00.45 finish.
She wrapped up her stint with a silver in the 200m breaststroke finishing in 2:39.43, behind the new Philippine record of 2:30.42 set by Ateneo de Manila University's Thanya Dela Cruz.
"The team, we were all very proud; we were all crying tears of joy, and really cheering our hearts out. So, we all felt like our hard work for the past months really paid off… and we're very happy," Chua, who also won gold in 400m free, said.
Hanoi Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Isleta also made her one-and-done stint count, scooping two golds on the final day in the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle.
Isleta clocked 30.07 seconds in the backstroke event for a new UAAP record and 26.49 seconds in the freestyle sprint.
She also set a new league record in her pet event 200m backstroke with 2:18.40 finish that bettered her prelims time of 2:22.66 as well in the 100m back of 1:04.13 faster than her 1:04.35 in the heats. Isleta also got gold in the 50m butterfly.