THE UST Tiger Fencers racked up two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals on Day 2 of the UAAP Season 87 fencing tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday, April 23.
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games silver medalist Alexa Larrazabal impressed in her collegiate debut, capturing the women’s epee title after trouncing UE’s Andrea Matias in the finals, 15-10.
“I had pressure in all of the bouts today and what kept me going is that all my UST teammates knew I could do it,” Larrazabal told the Varsitarian.
“I am really happy, of course. Overwhelmed because it’s my first UAAP and I did not expect anything from this competition. I just want to play my game, and entering the competition,I just wanted to make UST proud.”
In the women’s saber event, UST’s Krystal Tuy took silver as she fell short against UE’s three-time champion Queen Dalmacio, 15-11.
Her sister, Kim Tuy, copped bronze in the same category, also falling to Dalmacio in the semifinals.
In the girls’ division, UST’s Estelliah Gillana struck gold in the saber event after edging teammate Kathleen Tuy, 15-14, in the finals.
Rayne Maravilla settled for silver in boys’ foil, faltering against UE’s James Lim, 15-7. UST’s Ranzel Aberilla won bronze in the same event.
“Okay naman ‘yong performance ngayong araw, kumbaga nabawi ‘yong kahapon,” UST saber coach Donnie Navarro told the Varsitarian.
“Kailangan pa nila mas maintindihan ‘yong ginagawa namin para mas makapag-focus sila talaga, kaso gano’n naman sa fencing na paisa-isa lang naman ‘yong nangyayari pero kailangan makita kung anong nangyayari.”
The Tiger Fencers will continue their Season 87 campaign tomorrow, April 24, at 9 a.m. at the same venue. Joaquin Edgardo A. Cortez
