For the third consecutive year, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) was proclaimed the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) overall champion in both the juniors and seniors divisions. The distinctions were awarded during the Season 81 closing ceremonies held on May 21, 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
It is the third straight season that the University has dominated the seniors division, and its fifth straight time to win the juniors title.
The general champion trophy is awarded to the school with the highest total number of points in the 15 sports events — badminton, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, chess, fencing, football, judo, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
The University’s athletes bagged a total of 282 points, seven gold medals (men’s and women’s beach volleyball, men’s and women’s table tennis, women’s track and field, men’s and women’s judo), six silver medals (women’s volleyball, women’s fencing, women’s softball, and men’s, women’s, and co-ed Poomsae), and four bronze medals (women’s basketball, men’s swimming, men’s tennis, and women’s football).
The current point system gives 15 points to the champion squad, 12 points to the runner-up, and 10 points to the second runner-up, while the following points are given in consequent order of finish after third place: 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1.
The overall championship was first awarded in UAAP Season 10. As of Season 81, the University of Santo Tomas now holds the distinction of having the most number of overall championships with 63 titles in total. The University has won 43 seniors’ division overall championships in the 72 seasons that the title has been awarded, and won 20 juniors’ division overall championships out of the 24 seasons since the latter title’s establishment.
Photo credit: ABS-CBN News
