RULING THE WATERS once again, San Beda reaffirmed its dominance in collegiate swimming as the Red Sea Lions seized their 22nd straight men’s championship, while the Lady Sea Lions captured their 12th consecutive women’s title during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 101 Swimming Tournament from December 1 to 3 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The Red Sea Lions delivered a commanding three-day performance, finishing with 71 total medals across both divisions.
The men’s team collected 14 golds, 10 silvers, and 11 bronzes for 35 medals, while the women’s squad topped the standings with 16 golds, 9 silvers, and 11 bronzes for 36 medals, sealing San Beda’s sweep of the swimming championships.
Red Sea Lions stalwart Jennuel Booh De Leon once again rose above the competition, reclaiming the Season 101 Men’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors with a dominant campaign that yielded six golds, two silvers, and one bronze.
De Leon also rewrote the record books, setting new NCAA marks in the Men’s 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, and 200m Freestyle events.
In an interview with The Bedan, De Leon shared that carrying the weight of being the Season 100 MVP pushed him to be more deliberate in his preparation. He revealed that he constantly compared his previous performances to his current form to identify areas for improvement.
“Nag-adjust ako through training,” De Leon said, adding that he “diligently trusted” the programs laid out by the coaching staff throughout the season.
On the women’s side, Ihiazel Fei Dolliente proved anew why she remains the standard in NCAA swimming.
Fresh off her stellar Season 100 run, Dolliente successfully defended her MVP crown, hauling six golds and two silvers while also breaking records in the Women’s 800m Freestyle, 200m Breaststroke, and 200m Freestyle.
The back-to-back MVP emphasized that her preparation went beyond physical conditioning, focusing heavily on mental toughness.
She acknowledged moments of doubt along the way, but credited the team’s support system for keeping her grounded. “And’yan ‘yung mga teammates, coaches, para i-lift up and sabihin na don’t doubt yourself,” Dolliente shared, noting the reassurance she receives regardless of the outcome.
Swimming head coach Dondon Roxas credited the program’s sustained excellence to how the team embraces challenges year after year.
“Palagi ko lang ine-emphasize sa [swimmingl team is, paano nila ite-take yung challenges na haharapin namin every year sa mga competing teams,” Roxas said, as he anticipates tougher competition in the coming seasons.
Despite the mounting pressure, Roxas admitted that each championship still brings a unique sense of fulfillment.
“Syempre, every year na mag-champion, andiyan yung sobrang saya, dahil after a whole year of preparation, naa-achieve namin palagi na ma-defend yung championship namin.” he added.
The Red Sea Lions topped the men’s team standings with 1,331 points, comfortably ahead of College of Saint Benilde (1,063), while the Lady Red Sea Lions ruled the women’s division with 1,421 points, once again showcasing San Beda’s depth and consistency across events.