UAAP MVP banners Phl bid in Asean UniGames

MANILA, Philippines - Season 75 MVPs Johansen Aguilar, Jesson Cid and Christian Al Dela Cruz banner the Team UAAP-Philippines’ campaign in the 16th Asean University Games firing off today in Vientiane, Laos.

The Filipino student-athletes hope to surpass the fifth place finish (five-gold, four-silver, 24-bronze medal output) the team achieved two years ago in Chang Mai, Thailand.

Aguilar, an ace swimmer from La Salle, will return to defend his men’s 200-meter backstroke crown, while Cid, fresh from steering Far Eastern University to a “three-peat” last week, will compete in athletics.

Dela Cruz, a standout from University of Santo Tomas, will lead the Filipinos’ campaign in taekwondo.

Team UAAP-Philippines will also field entries in badminton with last season’s MVP Toby Gadi of Ateneo spearheading the squad.

Aside from Aguilar, other Chang Mai gold medalists were University of the Philippines standout Ken Uy (men’s 50-meter freestyle), and Ateneo standout Denjylie Cordero (women’s 200-meter breaststroke) in swimming.

Other Phl gold medal winners were Jayson Tubid of Ateneo in men’s bowling singles and UST stalwart Izel Masungsong in women’s taekwondo lightweight division.

The swimmers were the best performers for Team UAAP-Philippines in 2010 with a 3-1-6 gold-silver-bronze medal haul, followed by taekwondo with 1-0-10 and bowling with 1-0-1.

Thailand is the defending champion in the biennial meet, taking 58-61-50 gold-silver-bronze medal haul in two years, followed by Indonesia with 46-51-50.

2008 overall titlist Malaysia ended up in third spot with 37-36-44, while Vietnam placed fourth with 34-16-14, followed by the Phl student-athletes.

Team UAAP-Philippines will also field in entries in judo, diving and archery.

UAAP Season 75 president Nilo Ocampo of host National University will serve as the team’s delegation head.