Anticipating a more level playing field than in years past, the UST Tiger Fencers believe there’s no better moment to strike for UAAP supremacy than now, as they aim to dominate the Season 87 fencing tournaments with help from their national team aces.
In nine of the past 10 seasons, fencing powerhouse UE swept the four divisions of the tournament. However, a wave of transfers in the offseason — particularly to UP and DLSU — has evened out the level of competition in the league, according to UST foil coach Ricardo Fuenzalida and epee coach Armando Bernal.
“Hindi sila (UE) ‘yong main target namin sa ngayon. Kumbaga, balanced lang ‘yong level nila. Hindi kagaya ng last competition na almost lahat national team,” Fuenzalida told the Varsitarian.
Bernal said UST also had a role in creating this competitive balance.
“‘Yong pinaghahandaan namin ngayon is UP and La Salle. Medyo lumakas pa sila and kumuha rin sila ng players,” Bernal told the Varsitarian. “So ‘yong assessment namin sa competition, ‘yon na. Pero tayo kasi pinaka-target dahil tayo na ‘yong malakas ngayon.”
In Season 87, UST’s fencing teams will be spearheaded by three national team players: SEA Games bronze medalist Janna Catantan (women’s foil), rookie Alexa Larrazabal (women’s epee), and Eunice Villanueva (men’s saber).
Catantan and Larrazabal will give a much-needed boost to the Lady Fencers, who were Season 86 bronze medalists, while Villanueva will bolster the men’s sabre team, which won back-to-back golds in the team category in Seasons 85 and 86.
Larco Cortez (men’s foil and men’s sabre), Adam Putian (men’s epee), Chloe Chacon (women’s sabre), and Patricia Daradar (women’s foil) will also suit up for the UST fencers.
Bernal said the UST fencers must perform at the highest level across all disciplines for the championship.
“Sa fencing, kailangan contribution, magco-contribute bawat weapon,” he said. “Mahihirapan kami maka-place sa championship or first runner-up kung isang weapon lang ‘yong magtratrabaho.”
Fuenzalida said he, Bernal and sabre coach Donnie Navarro have adequately prepared the team, focusing on strengthening fundamentals and tactics during offseason competitions.
“Pinapalakas namin ‘yong mga bata and pinapasali namin sa mga competition. Lahat kasi ng competition, pinaglalaro. So pinalakas na rin namin ‘yong katawan ng mga players and ready na rin ‘yong utak nila para sa competition,” he said.
With UST’s title window now wide open — especially in the women’s division — Bernal emphasized that there is no room for complacency.
“Sana wag lang kabahan lang ‘yong mga bata. Kailangan talagang kung malakas ka, ipakita nila dapat na sila ‘yong national team [at] magaling sila,” Bernal said.
“Kahit mahina ‘yong kalaban, wag nila i-easy-easihin kasi nag-iisip din ‘yan. Minsan natatalo ‘yong national team ng mga hindi national team kaya kailangan wag sila kampante ‘pag naglalaro.”
The UAAP Season 87 fencing tournaments will run from April 22 to 25 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Joaquin Edgardo A. Cortez
