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If you follow Philippine swimming, there’s no better pulse check than the NCAA Philippines championships. Over the last two seasons (Season 99 in December 2023 and the centennial Season 100 in December 2024), the sport didn’t just crown champs—it rewrote the record book and showcased a pipeline that runs from grassroots meets like Palarong Pambansa to full-blown collegiate dynasties. The San Beda Red Sea Lions—already a byword for excellence—powered through a two-decade reign in the men’s division (Season 99) and then swept the men’s, women’s, and boys’ titles in Season 100, with multiple new NCAA records along the way.
At the center of the storm: Jennuel “Booh” De Leon (Men’s MVP), Ihiazel Fei Dolliente (Women’s MVP), and Albert Jose Amaro II (Boys’ MVP). Their performances—and the points avalanche behind them—explain how San Beda keeps the trophy case full while pulling the rest of the field forward.
Quick recap: who won what (and by how much)
- Season 99 (Dec 13–15, 2023; Rizal Memorial Sports Complex)
- Men’s champion: San Beda (1,380 points), ahead of Benilde (725.75) and Perpetual (279.25).
- Women’s champion: San Beda—10th straight title.
- Juniors champion: Benilde.
- Season 100 – NCAA Centennial (Dec 10–13, 2024; Teofilo Yldefonso Pool, Rizal Memorial)
- Men’s champion: San Beda—21st straight (and 26th overall).
- Women’s champion: San Beda—11th straight.
- Boys’ champion: San Beda, reclaiming the crown from LSGH.
- MVPs: De Leon (men), Dolliente (women), Amaro II (boys).
SEO note: Fans search for “NCAA Season 100 swimming results,” “San Beda swimming dynasty,” and “NCAA Philippines swimming records.” We’ll naturally use these phrases as we unpack the story.
The dynasty blueprint: how San Beda keeps winning
1) Streaks built on depth and development
San Beda’s 20-peat in Season 99 and 21-peat in Season 100 in the men’s division didn’t materialize from a handful of stars—it’s an institutional culture. The program historically racks up points across distance, sprint, stroke, and relays, allowing it to survive off-events and still pull away overall. That depth is reflected in blowout point margins (e.g., +650 over second place in S99 men).
2) Three-division domination in the centennial year
In Season 100, San Beda’s women clinched an 11th straight crown, while the boys squad reclaimed the juniors title—key signs that the pipeline is stacked from the ground up. A clean sweep across men, women, and boys is a rarity at any level; it telegraphs continuity for at least the next 2–3 seasons.
3) An engine powered by record-breakers
Records matter in recruiting and momentum. A program that breaks multiple NCAA marks sends a message about coaching, training load management, and race-day polish—crucial for keeping top high-schoolers in the fold. In Season 100 alone, San Beda athletes shattered at least seven NCAA records, headlined by De Leon and Dolliente.
Record breakers & MVPs: meet the faces of the surge
Jennuel “Booh” De Leon (San Beda) — Men’s MVP, Season 100
De Leon didn’t just collect hardware—he reportedly broke three NCAA records on his way to Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Swimmer, Most Bemedalled, and even Rookie/Freshman of the Year honors. The storyline resonates: a swimmer who started training in rivers back home in Aklan now redefining NCAA marks at the national complex. That kind of arc inspires age-groupers and expands the sport’s reach outside Metro Manila.
Why he’s special (and SEO-friendly takeaways):
- Versatility across events—not just a specialist—boosts team scoring flexibility.
- Elite relay value amplifies his individual points with high-impact splits.
- Recruiting magnet: High schoolers notice who wins and who breaks records; it compounds San Beda’s depth.
Ihiazel Fei Dolliente (San Beda) — Women’s MVP, Season 100
Dolliente arrived and dropped three NCAA records while sweeping the women’s individual awards: MVP, Most Outstanding, Most Records Broken, and Most Bemedalled. The performance underlines the Lady Red Sea Lions’ 11-peat and validates San Beda’s continued dominance among women.
Why it matters:
- Benchmark effect: New records set a faster “standard” that competitors must chase.
- Relay uplift: A true No. 1 woman raises every relay’s ceiling, which is huge in NCAA scoring.
- Pipeline proof: San Beda is attracting—and developing—women who can win now and set all-time marks.
Albert Jose Amaro II (San Beda) — Boys’ MVP, Season 100
A standout from Palarong Pambansa, Amaro blitzed three golds on Day 1 and kept piling up wins to become boys’ MVP as San Beda reclaimed the juniors crown. That’s massive for the future: juniors MVPs often become seniors point machines within two years.
What to watch next:
- Event migration: How Amaro distributes his event load in the seniors division.
- Record watch: Boys’ times suggest he’s tracking toward NCAA men’s finals scoring as early as his first seniors season.
Lucio Cuyong II (San Beda) — Record breaker, Seasons 98–99
Before De Leon and Dolliente stole the centennial spotlight, Lucio Cuyong II was already stacking NCAA breaststroke and relay records. He broke the 200m breast NCAA mark during Season 98 and later earned “Record Breaker” of Season 99 with three records held. That continuity from 2022 to the present underpins the streak.
Relay note: San Beda’s men set a new NCAA relay record around Season 100 with a 4:00.60 clocking that erased a 4:02.49 mark from Season 99—proof that the record churn isn’t limited to individual races.
The meets that changed everything: Season 99 & Season 100
Season 99 (Dec 13–15, 2023): the 20-peat
San Beda extended its men’s dynasty to 20 straight and won the women’s 10th in a row. The point spread was stark (1,380 vs 725.75 for second), signaling a gap in depth and relay consistency. Juniors went to Benilde, a result that would add spice to the following year’s boys’ showdown.
Season 100 (Dec 10–13, 2024): the three-division sweep
Held at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Manila’s Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the centennial meet belonged to San Beda in men, women, and boys—with a headline roll-call of MVPs: De Leon, Dolliente, Amaro II. Momentum matters; by sweeping, San Beda built a runway for Season 101 that other schools must strategically counter.
Key NCAA Philippines swimming records that fell (Season 100 focus)
Exact event lists vary by official bulletin; here are verified highlights from broadcast and campus sources.
- Jennuel “Booh” De Leon (Men): Three NCAA records broken en route to MVP and a full awards sweep (Most Outstanding, Most Bemedalled, Rookie/Freshman of the Year).
- Ihiazel Fei Dolliente (Women): Three NCAA records and a similar awards sweep in the women’s division.
- San Beda men’s relay: New NCAA mark at 4:00.60, eclipsing the 4:02.49 from Season 99.
- Lucio Cuyong II (Men): Earlier set the tone with a 200m breaststroke NCAA record and was lauded as a Season 99 record breaker (3 records).
What the numbers (and venues) tell us
- Venue matters: The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex—specifically the Teofilo Yldefonso Pool—hosted both S99 and S100. Elite venues with reliable timing systems and meet ops help athletes go faster, and the NCAA schedule now leverages that consistency.
- Point avalanches: Season 99’s men’s scoring (1,380 points) underscores how relays and depth compound into triple-digit cushions.
- The Benilde rivalry: CSB (Benilde) placed second in multiple divisions across the two seasons, signaling the most likely challenger in Season 101—especially if they can upgrade relay depth and convert silver/bronze finals into gold.
- Juniors tug-of-war: LSGH Greenies dominated the boys ranks for years, but San Beda reclaimed the juniors title in S100—often a precursor to seniors surges two years later.
How today’s stars are reshaping tomorrow’s NCAA
The recruiting wake: MVPs attract MVPs
When one program showcases MVPs across all divisions in the same meet, the message is simple: come here to get faster. Expect Season 101 to bring more national-age standouts into San Beda (and motivated counters from Benilde, Perpetual, JRU, and Letran).
Grassroots synergy: from Palaro to podiums
Albert Jose Amaro II’s rapid impact (Palaro star → NCAA boys’ MVP in his first season) is a textbook example of the Philippines’ talent pipeline functioning as intended. Programs that actively scout Palarong Pambansa, Batang Pinoy, and national age-group meets will reap dividends.
Relay culture as a competitive edge
Relays are double leverage: they earn big points and galvanize team culture. The Season 100 4:00.60 relay record showcases how training groups develop interchangeable parts that can still break marks. Expect rivals to retool around relay depth—not just one or two A-finalists.
For fans & families: how to follow NCAA Philippines swimming
- Bookmark official sports pages & schedules: GMA NCAA publishes meet results, MVPs, and championship summaries—ideal for tracking Season 101 storylines as they unfold.
- Track campus outlets: School publications like The Bedan often drop deep team-level recaps, medal counts, and award breakdowns you won’t find elsewhere.
- Check federation-adjacent pages: Groups and leagues sometimes post event-by-event results and heat recaps during meets. These add color to the official summaries.
- Follow team social channels: They frequently post record alerts (e.g., relay time drops, new NCAA marks). It’s also where you’ll see behind-the-scenes training and call-ups to national trials.
For swimmers & coaches: how to get NCAA-ready
1) Periodize like a contender.
Build to two peaks: mid-season qualifiers (to secure lanes and test race plans) and NCAA taper at Rizal Memorial. Prioritize turns and underwater work—often the biggest time leaks in long-course racing.
2) Race with a relay mindset.
Even as an individual medal threat, train relay exchanges and order permutations. Programs that squeeze 0.2–0.3s per exchange across four swimmers win relays—and championships.
3) Own the “off” stroke.
De Leon, Dolliente, and Cuyong all demonstrate value across more than one strength. Developing an “off” stroke (e.g., breast for an IMer) is the surest way to add a finals and pad team points.
4) Data discipline.
Keep a personal database of splits, stroke counts, and psych-sheet positions; review after every meet. The fastest risers close feedback loops weekly, not just at taper.
5) Lean on the pipeline.
If you coach, be present at Palaro, Batang Pinoy, and age-group meets. Early contact + clear scholarship pathways keeps Filipino standouts from drifting to other sports—or other leagues.
The rival roadmap: what challengers must do to catch San Beda
- Stack relays with interchangeable legs. Anchor leg heroics are great, but winning the event requires four low-variance swims.
- Target mid-tier finals for conversion. Identify bronze seeds who can be trained into gold threats with race-specific tapering.
- Recruit role players as aggressively as stars. Titles are won by the 4th and 5th scorers in each event; create development slots explicitly for them.
- Hire specialist consultants pre-NCAA (starts/turns, underwater, race modeling). One meet-prep camp can yield multi-second improvements across the squad.
- Culture first. Record breakers attract attention, but everyday grinders close out double sessions and hold relay starts. Build a culture that celebrates both.
Season 101 preview: five storylines to watch
- Can Benilde break the dam? They’ve been the most consistent podium presence behind San Beda; a relay overperformance could tilt momentum.
- Do De Leon & Dolliente push their records lower? With one NCAA under their belts, the sophomore jump could be brutal—especially on relays.
- Amaro’s seniors debut path. How he scales up event selection and workload will influence men’s finals seeding by mid-season.
- Juniors tug-of-war, Part II. After San Beda reclaimed the boys, expect LSGH to counter hard in recruiting and taper tactics.
- New records watch. With Season 100 showing 7+ new marks, don’t be shocked if Season 101 produces another wave, particularly in breaststroke and medley relays.
What this means for Philippine swimming
The NCAA stage is more than weekend hardware—it’s a talent incubator feeding the national team, SEA Games rosters, and international meets. Athletes like Cuyong have intersected with World Aquatics competitions, while Amaro’s “from Palaro to NCAA MVP” arc demonstrates how local ecosystems can produce international-viable athletes when coaching, facilities, and meet ops all align.
The ripple effects:
- Higher domestic standards. New NCAA records reset the baseline for youth and club coaches.
- Better fan literacy. Mainstream coverage (GMA, ABS-CBN, BusinessWorld, campus media) is maturing around splits, relay strategy, and season arcs—making the sport more accessible.
- Incentivized investment. Dynasties force rivals to invest in sports science, recovery, and recruiting—a tide that lifts all boats.
How to support your favorite NCAA swim program (today)
- Show up at Rizal Memorial or stream the broadcasts. More eyeballs = more institutional support.
- Follow/engage on team channels (shares, comments, and DMs help recruiting, morale, and sponsor interest).
- Sponsor a lane (clubs, alumni groups, local businesses). Small recurring donations buy taper suits, race video, even portable pace clocks—things that move the needle.
Strong call-to-action
Love Philippine swimming? Join the conversation:
- Comment with the record you think will fall next (and by how much).
- Tag a friend who should watch NCAA Season 101 with you.
- If you’re an alum or a club coach, share how your community can adopt an event group (sprinters, breaststrokers, IMers) this season.
The more we talk about the sport, the faster it grows—and the faster our swimmers get.