The UST Tiger Fencers captured their first gold while the Junior Lady Fencers missed an early opportunity to clinch the overall title on Day 3 of the UAAP Season 88 fencing tournament on Sunday, March 15, at the Makati Coliseum.
Adam Putian, Christian Sarmiento, Keith Bernal, and Joaquin Chan outdueled last year’s epee champion University of the Philippines (UP) quartet of Calix Ho, Meynard Buentipo, Lorenzo Malvar, and Reynaldo Perez in sudden death, 44-43, to capture the men’s epee team gold, their first this season.
“Intense ‘yong laban, pero hindi sila bumitaw,” UST epee head coach Armando Bernal told the Varsitarian. “Sinabihan ko lang sila, ‘Wag kayo mawalan ng tiwala. ‘Di pa tapos ‘yong game, kaya niyo ‘yan… at magtiwala lang sa sarili.’”
Larco Cortez, Marcus Fernandez, Ricardo Fuenzalida and Cedric Passan succumbed to De La Salle University (DLSU) in the semifinal to settle for bronze in the men’s team saber event, 45-33.
The Tiger Fencers jumped to fourth in the standings with one gold and two silver medals.
In the women’s division, UST’s Ruby Sardenia, Kim Tuy, Lady Bathan and Sharlanne Gonzales settled for bronze in the foil category, yielding to UP’s Marina Carbonell, Beatrice Fajardo, Mariel Flores and Nami Noro in the semifinal, 45-17.
The Lady Fencers, last season’s champions, are now in fourth place with one silver and one bronze medal after three days.
In the juniors’ division, UST Junior Lady Fencers Aubrey Fernandez, Marian Castro, Erich Corpuz, and Aila Sison fell to De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ) quartet Martina Baccay, Olivia Bernal, Irish Cadena, and Tiffany Payot to settle for bronze in the semifinal of the foil event, 43-42.
A gold would have secured the overall title for UST, snapping the University of the East’s (UE) 11-year championship streak.
UST girls still lead the standings with a 2-3-2 gold-silver-bronze medal tally, while UE trails in second place with two golds and three bronzes.
“Actually, normal sa game na bigla kang mawawala. ‘Yong excited ka na naka-set na magpo-podium ka or mananalo, pupunta kayo sa finals. Parang doon sila naka-focus,” UST foil head coach Ricardo Fuenzalida told the Varsitarian. “Nawala ‘yong focus nila. Kaya na-blanko halos lahat.”
The Junior Lady Fencers still have a chance to secure at least two gold medals on the final day when they compete in the epee and saber events.
In the boys’ division, the Junior Tiger Fencers collected one silver and one bronze medal on Day 3.
UST’s Nathaniel Bernal, Reynaldo De Guzman, John Malinao, and Ian Miranda were unable to defend their boys’ epee title, succumbing to Brynt Gale, Ruzel Gallano, Don Geronimo and Janes Lim of UE in the final, 45-21.
Antonio Baydid, Julian Bayro, Eyce Olarte, and Eilrahc Sendico’s late comeback surge fell short in the saber event semifinal against Ateneo’s Jose Estrada, Matthew General, Mairon Moulic and Julian Rosares, 45-43, to take bronze.
The boys’ squad sits in fifth place with one silver and two bronze medals, while UE clinched its 14th straight title in the division with a 3-2-1 medal haul.
UST will wrap up its Season 88 fencing events on Monday, March 16, at the same venue.
