UST, UP make early collegiate fencing headway

c/o UAAP

The collegiate field seems ready to finally challenge the University of the East's dominance.

Day 1 of the UAAP Season 86 Fencing Championships kicked off on Thursday, with a successful title defense for Eunice Villanueva in the men's sabre.

The Tiger Fencer breezed through by sweeping the field in pool play, dispatching John Michael Gajon of La Salle in the quarterfinals, 15-1, then survived two Blue Eagles in the medal matches. He took out Andre Agatep in the semifinals, 15-11, and then outperformed Toby Cabrera in the final. 15-4.

When asked about how he managed to defend his title, the 24-year-old shares, "Ang ginawa ko lang talaga kanina ay nagdasal at nag-focus lang po ako."

His gold, combined with Adam Putian's bronze finish in the epee, means the hosts set the early pace in the race for the men's title, which would be the fourth one in their history.

Being able to pull that off is something Villanueva and the rest of his teammates want to accomplish. He says, "Gusto talaga naming maging kampeon. Susubukan naming panatilihin ito hanggang matapos."

Edan Ensamtan claimed the epee gold in the other men's division scheduled, defeating UE's Aurell Obzunar, 15-8 in the final. The Green Fencer's title moved them just behind UST in the title race, with Ateneo's silver and bronze in sabre putting them in third.

In the women's side, Nana Carbonell claimed the lone title scheduled, dispatching Eytria Olarte of the University of the East in the foil final, 15-12.

Olarte produced a stunning upset in the semifinals by claiming a 15-11 triumph over Janna Catantan of UST, while Carbonell easily dispatched fellow Maroon Nami Noro, 15-5.

Getting both fencers into the medal bouts allows UP to get a head start in the women's title race, with their defending champion in epee Juliana Gomez set to participate later Friday.

UE got better news in the high school ranks, thanks to a 1-2 finish in the boys' sabre by Charles Babatio and Khiane Felipe. The former claimed the title with a 15-11 victory.

Chasing the Juniors Warriors and hoping to prevent their decade-long dominance is the University of Santo Tomas, who earned the epee gold with a 15-7 victory by Armand Putian over Von Eubert Gale. The hosts also snagged a bronze thanks to an all-UST semifinal with the younger Putian dispatching Christian Sarmiento, 15-8.

Opao Catantan won the lone girls event scheduled, as the Junior Warrior fought off a game effort from Miyake Capina of La Salle-Zobel, in the foil final, 15-12.

Capina bounced back from going 1-2 in her first three pool matches to snatch the third seed, then survived the UST duo of Krystal Tuy (15-7 in the quarterfinals) and Patricia Daradar (15-8 in the semifinals) to set up a rematch against Catantan.

Aubrey Fernandez claimed the other bronze after she fell short against Catantan in an all-UE pairing.

The remaining individual matches will be decided all day Friday, with the morning session involving the girls' sabre, boys' foil, and women's epee. Capping off afternoon action are women's sabre, men's foil, and girls' epee.

In a first, the tournament will be streamed LIVE through Pilipinas Live, available online or through their app.