Southeast Asian (SEA) Games bronze medalist Janna Catantan secured a gold medal for UST in the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) Senior Fencing Championships held from Feb. 3 to 4 at Gateway Mall 2 in Cubao, Quezon City.
Catantan bested University of the East’s Sophia Catantan, her younger sister, in the finals match to top the women’s foil category, 15-11.
“Honestly, talagang kinakabahan ako yesterday kasi unang ranking siya for the PFA. Parang alanganin talaga ako the past few trainings, either bababa ‘yung morale ko or tataas, so malaking bagay talaga siya para sa’kin,” Catantan, the UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year, told the Varsitarian.
“Parang ngayon na nag-gold ako, mas talagang tumaas ‘yung confidence ko, kumbaga ‘yung success rate ng UAAP mas tumaas for me.”
In the men’s épée category, SEA Games silver medalist and former UST team captain Noelito Jose Jr. nabbed gold, while former Junior Tiger Fencer Timothy Gonzales settled for bronze. SEA Games bronze medalist and Season 73’s top rookie Hanniel Abella copped bronze in the women’s foil category.
“Masyadong malakas ‘yung opens na ‘to so parang lahat ng national team nandito,” UST épée coach Armando Bernal told the Varsitarian. “Malaking tulong ‘to sa kanila dahil dito namin nakikita ‘yung mga performance ng mga bata, kung talagang puwede na sila para sa UAAP.”
For foil coach Ricardo Fuenzalida, reviewing and polishing basic fencing techniques will be crucial for the Tiger Fencers.
“Lilinisin lang ‘yung technique at ‘yung idea ng laro. Aayusin lang ‘yung galaw kasi kahapon parang naninibago sila sa competition dahil ang tagal na walang competition,” Fuenzalida told the Varsitarian. “At least kahit papaano nakita na natin kung ano ‘yung mistake nila.“
The Senior Fencing Championship was the first leg of the seven-leg program of the PFA’s national team selection process. A fencer’s accumulated points during the seven legs will be totaled which will serve as the basis for the rankings; the top four players in the three fencing disciplines will make the national roster.
Lady Fencer Kim Tuy and Tiger Fencer Kurt Maruquez made it to the last round of eliminations but failed to advance to the semifinals after losing to national team members Meagan Co Say and CJ Conception, landing in the sixth and seventh spots of the women’s and men’s saber categories, respectively.
In the tightly contested men’s épée category that had 69 participants, Tiger Fencers Adam Putian, Adam Maano, Luis Deveza, Christian Sarmiento, Keith Bernal and Joaquin Chan all faltered in the elimination rounds.
Saber coach Donnie Navarro and Tiger fencers Larco Cortez, Ricardo Fuenzalida, Jr., Saint Estrella, Marrke Abaygar, Raphael Lizares and Angelo Rambongga met the same fate in the men’s saber and men’s foil eliminations.
In women’s play, foil fencers Patricia Daradar, Rudy Sardenia, Leila Vizcayno, Aila Sison, Anne David, Lady Bathan and saber fencer Kristel Chacon also lost in the elimination rounds of their respective categories.
This is the Tiger Fencers’ last competition before the UAAP Season 86 fencing tournament slated for March.
