THE UST Tiger Fencers claimed a bronze medal while the Junior Lady Tiger Fencers reaped two medals on the opening day of the UAAP Season 88 fencing tournament on Friday, March 13, at the Makati Coliseum.
Adam Putian secured UST’s lone medal in the seniors’ division despite yielding to Calix Ho of the University of the Philippines (UP) in the semifinals, 15-14.
In the women’s division, the UST Lady Tiger Fencers were unable to defend their women’s foil crown after Ruby Sardenia and Lady Bathan lost in the quarterfinals.
Sardenia yielded to eventual champion Marina Carbonell of UP, while Bathan fell short to Mariel Flores of the Fighting Maroons to finish in seventh and eighth place, respectively.
“Sa college, nag-improve bawat school, tayo lang sa college nawala. … Nale-late tayo,” UST foil head coach Ricardo Fuenzalida told the Varsitarian. “Sa tingin ko, after nitong year, makakabawi na tayo. Di ko lang in-expect na ganoon na kalakas ang mga kalaban.”
Meanwhile, the girls’ team took home one silver and one bronze, while the boys’ squad ended Day 1 without a medal.
In the foil event, Aubrey Fernandez captured silver after succumbing to Sophia Catantan of the University of the East (UE) in the finals, 15-12, who defended her title for the fourth consecutive year.
“’Yong performance ni Aubrey, very good ‘yon,” Fuenzalida said. “Maganda naman ‘yong nilaro niya. Kahit natalo siya, buo ‘yong laro niya.”
Season 87 Rookie of the Year Marian Castro settled for bronze after bowing to her teammate Fernandez in an all-UST semifinal, 15-12.
The fencing tournaments will continue on Friday, March 13, at the same venue.
