The UST Junior Lady Fencers captured two gold and two silver medals on Day 2 of the UAAP Season 88 fencing tournament on Saturday, March 14, at the Makati Coliseum.
The girls’ team, now with a 2-3-1 gold-silver-bronze medal haul, leads the standings after two days, overtaking 11-time defending champion University of the East (UE), which now sits in second place with one gold and three bronze medals.
“Sana makuha na namin ‘yong championship sa girls pero kailangan pang pagtrabahuhan ‘yon,” UST saber head coach Donnie Navarro told the Varsitarian. “Hindi pa tapos ‘yong laban.”
In the girls’ division, Ma. Estelliah Gillana defended her saber crown, edging teammate Kathleen Tuy in a rematch of last year’s finals, 15-14, to give UST its first gold of the season.
“I feel very proud because medyo na-pressure ako from what happened yesterday, and I needed to bounce back from what happened,” Gillana told the Varsitarian. “But then, it gave me the confidence that I can win gold for my team.”
UST’s Aubrey Fernandez collected her second medal of the season, seizing gold in another all-UST final against Althea Lopez in the girls’ epee, 15-11.
Ranzel Aberilla settled for bronze after absorbing a 15-4 semifinal defeat to James Lim of the University of the East (UE) in the boys’ foil category.
In the seniors’ division, the Lady Fencers secured a silver medal, while the Tiger Fencers added one bronze on Day 2.
Krystal Tuy settled for silver in the women’s saber event after falling to three-time UAAP MVP Queen Dalmacio of UE in the final, 15-7.
In women’s epee, the Lady Tiger Fencers came up short in their title defense after Rodgelyn Raguin and Dahlia Capuno missed out on quarterfinal slots. Raguin and Capuno placed ninth and 10th, respectively.
Markke Abaygar settled for bronze, falling to UE’s Shawn Felipe in the men’s foil event, 15-5.
As the tournament shifts to the team events, Navarro urged his fencers to stay composed for the final stretch of the competition.
“Gusto ko ilabas lang nila ‘yong totoo nilang laro. Alam ko namang magagaling sila,” Navarro said. “Pero ‘yon nga, kung nadadala ng kaba, ‘yong pressure, ‘yon ‘yong tumatalo sa kanila — ‘yong sarili nila.”
The UAAP fencing team events will begin on Sunday, March 15, at the same venue.
