UAAP youth fencing standouts lead Philippine contingent at Foil Junior World Cup

The Philippines at the FIE Foil Junior World Cup in Bangkok (photo shared by Ishoot Isports Phi Image / Waylon Galvez)

With an eye towards Southeast Asian Games, two Filipino fencers are set to use an upcoming international stint to boost their preparations.

UAAP champions Sophia Catantan and Louis Shoemaker lead the Philippine contingent in the 2025 edition of the Bangkok FIE Foil Junior World Cup, which will take place at the Diamond Hall of the Zeer Ransit Shopping Mall in Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand from December 13-15.

The duo will then proceed to the SEA Games, with the fencing competition kicking off the next day at the Fashion Island Mall. Both fencers are currently expected to participate on the team portion of the competition.

For Catantan, it is a chance to make amends after being bounced out after pool play at this exact same event last year. She shares to Waylon Galvez, "We hope to make the most as we compete again in the World Cup before we head to the SEA Games. Both tournaments are equally important for us, that’s why we hope to do well in the Junior World Cup and in the SEA Games."

Shoemaker acknowledges the challenge that looms and adds, "We hope to do better. We hope to improve not only our skills but also our respective placings.." Like his fellow student-athlete from Recto, the former UAAP HS Boys MVP also did not move past pool play last time out, albeit in 2023.

Saturday will see the men take to the piste, with Shoemaker being joined by fellow Red Warrior James Limuel Lim, Marcus Antonio Manuel of the University of Asia and the Pacific, and Dean Myers of Haverford University in Pennsylvania. These three comprised the Philippine men's contingent a year ago, with Myers seeking to improve from 54th place finish, while Lim and Manuel plan on bouncing back from first round exits.

Comprising the nine-man squad are Jethro Chan (Homeschool of Asia Pacific) and Derek Perez (Ateneo), Australia-based Jeremy David Ong (School of Isolated and Distance Education), and US-based Nathan Palma (Olentangy HS, OH) and Jacob Le (Huntington Beach HS, CA).

The next day will feature the women, led by Catantan and seven others. Joining her in the field are fellow UE fencers Yuna Canlas and Willa Galvez, as well as multiple UAAP high school medalist Miyake Capina. The La Salle-Zobel standout is seeking to improve from her 87th place finish and first round exit last year.

Also making a return from last year are the trio of Jodie Tan, Victoria Ebdane (Homeschool Global), and Jada Divinagracia (MIIS) as they seek to make it into the knockout rounds this time around. Hagia Sophia del Castillo from Poveda completes the field.

Team competition will cap off action on Monday, with the quartet of Le, Lim, Manuel, and Myers for the men and Capina, Divinagracia, Ebdane, and Tan for the women. 

Joining the Filipino delegation are national team veterans and coaches Bing Lozada, Michael Nicanor, and Justine Tinio.

In addition, US-based fencer of Filipino ancestry Gabrielle Grace Gebala is also set to participate, with the Silicon Valley Fencing Center standout also looking to improve on her second round exit last year.