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| The Philippine National team at the Asian Fencing Championships last June |
The Philippine Fencing Association’s senior ranking season returns to the strip this weekend as the third leg of the 2026 PFA Open Ranking Tournament takes place on July 4 and 5 at Rizal Memorial.
The two-day competition marks another important stop in the national ranking calendar, with fencers across foil, epee, and sabre expected to chase valuable points, podium finishes, and positioning in the race for year-end standings and national team consideration.
Second leg set the tone
The second leg last April 25 and 26, also held at Rizal Memorial, continued the Dr. Celso L. Dayrit Memorial Fencing Championships and drew around 250 competitors, underscoring the depth of the Open Division field. It followed a season opener that saw national team regulars, elite club fencers, and Modern Pentathlon standouts battle for early control across foil, epee, and sabre.
Nearly all of the early medalists returned for that April stop, while fencers fresh from UAAP, cadet and junior, and international campaigns added to the level of competition. That mix of proven names and rising challengers helped sharpen the ranking race heading into this weekend’s third leg.
Ranking points take center stage
Coming after the opening senior ranking leg at Amoranto Sports Complex in February and the second leg at Rizal Memorial in April, the third leg now gives competitors a timely opportunity to build on recent momentum, defend early gains, or make a decisive move up the leaderboard.
With the PFA calendar listing two more senior stops later in the year, including the fourth leg in September and the Philippine Open International in October, every direct elimination win this weekend could carry added weight in the broader ranking picture.
Storylines to watch
Among the key storylines will be how the early leaders respond under renewed pressure, particularly with the season now moving past its halfway point for the senior circuit. The third leg traditionally serves as a proving ground for contenders who have already built momentum, while also opening the door for emerging names from clubs and school-based programs to break through.
The event also provides another high-level test for fencers sharpening their form in a busy domestic calendar. Beyond individual medals, the weekend will be a gauge of consistency, depth, and tactical maturity as athletes navigate pool bouts and knockout rounds against familiar rivals and rising challengers.
Members of the national Team, fresh from their exploits in the Senior Asian Fencing Championships in New Delhi, are set to participate. All but two from that pool are set to compete, including Penn State standout Sam Catantan, and Sean Lauron, who was a late scratch in New Delhi and was not able to participate.
Also set to join in are members of the Modern Pentathlon pool, led by Princess Honey Arbilon.
Rizal Memorial back as fencing hub
Rizal Memorial continues to serve as a central venue for the PFA’s 2026 competitions, hosting multiple ranking legs across senior, junior, cadet, minime, veteran, and recreational divisions. Its return as host for the third senior leg reinforces its role as one of the key stages for the country’s competitive fencing scene.
For athletes, coaches, and clubs, the July 4-5 tournament is more than another weekend competition. It is a chance to measure progress, test adjustments made from previous legs, and build confidence heading into the final stretch of the senior ranking season.
Momentum up for grabs
As the national rankings tighten and the calendar moves deeper into the year, the third leg of the PFA Open Ranking Tournament is expected to deliver another competitive weekend of Philippine fencing. For the country’s top senior fencers and those hoping to join them, Rizal Memorial will once again be the place where form, focus, and ranking ambitions are put to the test.
