DESPITE a depleted line-up, the UST Fencers had another silver and bronze showing for the third straight year.
The Sabres saved the men’s team from a medal shutout as they plucked silvers in both the team and individual events. The two silvers were enough to make UST remain in the top three of the men’s competitions.
National mainstay Gian Carlo Nocom led the Sabre team in its gut-wrenching 45-42 loss to UE. Marc Leoncio, Richard Gumabao and Carlo Da Jose together with Nocom lost to the powerhouse UE team composed of national players Edmund Velez and Richard Fuenzalida, Emmanuel Bongiad and Mark Manzalay.
In the individual event, Nocom suffered a 12-15 setback to Velez, who was adjudged Most Valuable Player.
With the exodus of the players for various reasons, UST failed to complete an Epeé team. Mark Medrazo, the lone remaining member of the last year’s Epeé team, placed a lowly eight in the indvidual event.
Alamario Vizcayno, Marco Olaybal and Francis Limayo did not play due to academic problems.
In the foil event, the swordsmen finished fifth even as Crisanto Tarce finished in the top eight. Patrick Catama failed to enroll this school year due to financial reasons while Dan Row Yumul missed the competitions due to injury.
UE won the title with four golds and three bronzes to show while Far Eastern University snared the second place with two golds and three silvers.
Just like the swordsmen, the Lady Fencers failed to stop the University of the Philippines from bagging its unprecedented fourth straight fencing crown.
The Lady Fencers managed only to pocket one gold, one silver and two bronzes to remain bridesmaid for the third straight year.
Former volleyball varsity and national stalwart Harlene Orendain delivered the lone gold to UST’s chest as she nipped UP’s Ma. Elena Tuppil, 15-14 in the finals of the women’s Epeé.
In the team event, Orendain teamed up with Kate Kong and Jona Cayabyab but lost, 45-39, to Ma. Margarita Ganallo, Esperenza Bregendahl and Melly Joyce Angeles of UP.
In the women’s foil, Mheann Calapan failed to finish within the top three. Calapan, Pamela Lorenzo, Mercy Locsin and Marian Cruz lost a 45-43 decision to UE’s Guilda Tuazon, Mitch Gomez, Ella Espadilla and Jenny de la Cruz in the battle for third.
In the Sabre event, the Lady Fencers composed of Ma. Aurora Galan, Jeni Perez and Calapan subdued Ateneo de Manila University’s Anna Villanueva, Anne Baylon and Joan Legaspi, 45-34 in the battle for third.
Galan lost to UE’s Ponella Espadilla, 13-15, and settled for the bronze.
UP cornered five golds en route to the championship while UE placed third after pocketing three silvers and a bronze. Alder T. Almo
