A DEPLETED lineup will make it difficult for the UST Lady Fencers to take championship this season, their coach acknowledged.
While the team is eyeing for its first championship since the tournament started
in 1996, head coach Ricardo Fuenzalida admitted the campaign will not be easy amid recruitment issues brought by the K-to-12 program.
“Ang mindset namin lagi ay mag-overall champion. Pero sa taong ito, inaamin namin na nahihirapan kami… Naubos ‘yung mga seniors namin,” Fuenzalida told the
Varsitarian.
After UST fencing vets Donita Navarro, Joanna Marie Guevarra, Anna Patricia Macaraig and former captains Hanniel Abella and Maylene Pailma exhausted their playing years, the Lady Fencers will draw from their young core this year.
Fuenzalida also said the team still has a long way to the championship due to its roster composed of mainly first-timers in the UAAP.
“Ang [aim] lang namin ngayon ay second-runner up or third, sinabi na namin
‘yun,” Fuenzalida said. “Pero tina-try namin na hindi lang ‘yun ‘yung goal kasi gusto namin maibalik sa first-runner up or champion, lagi naman naming pinaglalabanan ‘yan.”
Last year’s captain and national team player Palima initially opted to skip Season 79
and join this season’s team but had a change of heart to give leverage to the Lady Fencers’ then overall placing.
Despite the gaps, the Lady Fencers coaching staff doubled the team’s training efforts in time for the tournament, which will start on the first week of February.
The team trains for six hours daily and only skipped sessions during the Christmas
break.
Last season, the Lady Fencers placed third behind one gold, silver and bronze medals.
University of the Philippines and UE, which placed second and first, respectively, remained the hurdles in the Lady Fencers’ road to the podium.
The Lady Fencers’ current training pool which consists mostly of rookies will be led by newly-minted captain Maricar Dizon.
“[During trainings] I tell them to instill discipline to reach our goals for the upcoming
UAAP,” Dizon said.
Dizon was part of the UST women’s epee team which won bronze in Season 78.
“[I tell them to] train not just to comply with the required training time, I tell them
train because they are aiming for something. I tell them to love what they’re doing because the outcome is more victorious when [my teammates] give their best effort,” Dizon added.
UAAP fencing action will start on Feb. 8 to 11 at Tiendesitas in Pasig.
