THE UST Male Fencers secured two medals while their female counterparts went home empty-handed in Day 2 of the UAAP fencing tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Friday.
Yesterday’s men’s epee champion Noelito Jose was denied of a second gold medal this season and settled for bronze after crumbling to teammate Gian Carlo Aribe in the foil division semifinals, 13-15.
But Aribe fell to University of the East’s Samuel Tranquilan in the finals, 8-15, for UST’s only silver for the day.
“Most probably maganda ‘yung rank natin by Sunday. We have chances of going into the finals if maganda ang laro ng mga players natin,” UST mens’ foil coach Emerson Segui said.
In women’s play, Marielle Peralta failed to advance to the semifinals of the epee category after succumbing to Ateneo’s Patricia Sarmiento while La Salle’s Divine Romero defeated UST captain Maricar Dizon anew in the quarterfinal round of the same category.
In the sabre division, Lady Fencer Cherie Manago fell prey to University of the Philippines’ River Gaddi in the quarterfinals while Fhaym Sarrondo failed to advance to the qualifiers.
“Sa babae, puro bago [‘yung players] kaya ganoon pero aayusin namin ‘yung laro, huwag lang [sila] magpabaya sa La Salle. Iyon ang binabantayan [namin],” UST womens’ sabre coach Ricardo Fuenzalida said.
In juniors’ action, Kim Tuy (girls’ sabre) notched silver while Keziah Chua (girls epee) and Samuel Mangarin (boys’ foil) bagged bronze.
The Tiger Fencers wrapped up the individual category at second place with a 1-1-2 gold-silver-bronze medal haul next to defending champion UE while the Lady Fencers sank to fourth place with one bronze medal, behind La Salle, UP and UE.
The team events will start tomorrow, 8 a.m., at the same venue.
