The UST Tiger Fencers and Lady Fencers bagged silver medals in their respective divisions in the UAAP Season 85 fencing tournament at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday.
The men’s and women’s fencing teams snagged one silver and two bronze medals on the final day to end the season with 2-0-2 and 1-2-3 gold-silver-bronze medal hauls, respectively.
UST epee coach Armando Bernal said the team’s improvement was huge especially after it missed the podium in Seasons 81 and 82.
“Yung performance namin ngayong year, nag-improve ulit,” Bernal told the Varsitarian. “Itutuloy lang namin ‘yung training namin, kung ano ‘yung program namin, tapos siguro magdadagdag lang kami ng kung ano yung pwede pang idagdag namin sa training para lumakas pa yung mga bata.”
Lady Fencers Janna Catantan, Kristel Chacon, Jaimee Sapungan, and Kim Tuy bowed down to University of the East’s Queen Dalmacio, Jaymi Delos Santos, Elvielyn Javinar and Marica Matienzo to nab silver in the women’s saber division, 44-45.
The women’s epee team of Kezia Chua, Briar Mira, Janna Catantan and Cyrra Vergara fell short against UE’s Anrea Matias, Delos Santos, Cyrylle Schofield, and Krystal Lao in the semifinals, 33-45.
Tiger Fencers Matthew Abaygar, Joseph Amores, Samuel Mangarin and Cedric Pasan crashed out of the men’s foil semifinals after crumbling against UE’s Robert Cabaero, Prince Felipe, Shawn Felipe and Jamil Sebastian, 25-45.
In the juniors’ division, UST’s girls’ team finished second, while the boys’ team settled for third place.
Lady Fencer Catantan took home the top rookie fencer plum in the women’s category.
University of the East’s fencing team completed their quadruple crown run and ruled the tournament with an overall 8-2-4 gold-silver-bronze medal tally in the collegiate division and a 8-6-2 medal haul in the high school division. Bjorn Del B. Deade with reports from Marvin John Uy
