THOMASIAN fencers again made the country proud after registering podium finishes in the 2006 Southeast Asian Fencing Championships (SEAFC) last May 13-20 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Representing the RP team, the UST fencers hauled three gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals against their 23rd Southeast Asian Games competitors.
UST stalwart and SEA Games bronze medalist Gian Carlo Nocum reigned supreme in the individual men’s sabre division against RP teammate Walbert Mendoza, 15-13. In the qualifying matches, Nocum outplayed Brunei’s Hj Abdul Hamid Mohd and Malaysia’s Bakri Husnul Ariq.
“I had the advantage because I was able to fight against fencers from other countries constantly that I know when to tush (attack) based on their playing style,” Nocum told the Varsitarian. “Mas simple ang galaw, mas maganda ang chance maka-score.”
Meanwhile, Thomasian Patrick Catama pocketed the bronze for the RP team fencers in the seniors’ foil division after losing the finals seed to eventual champion Bui Van Thai of Vietnam, 22-25.
SEAFC neophyte and Charles da Jose of UST also copped a bronze in the men’s epee juniors division despite having a height disadvantage against his Malaysian and Vietnamese opponents.
“Nilakasan ko lang talaga ang loob ko,” da Jose said. “I used my quickness because my taller rivals had longer reach.”
UST coach Arman Bernal said the SEAFC brought out the best in his athletes.
“I knew that they will be at their best to win medals in the tournament,” Bernal said. “They had finally shown their winning form and I am happy about it.”
In team events, UAAP Season 68 individual sabre event champion Nocum powered the RP team fencers to victory in the men’s sabre senior division against the hapless Indonesians, 45-32. RP team mainstays Walbert Mendoza, Edmond Velez, and Edward Daliva completed the winning team.
Meanwhile, UST fencer Patrick Catama, Emerson Segui, Rolando Canlas Jr., Ramil Edriano, and Mark Denver Atienza thrashed Vietnam, 45-23, in the men’s foil senior division finals.
In men’s sabre, the Bernal-led RP fencers succumbed to the quicker Singaporeans, 45-29, in the finals.
In the women’s side, UST Lady Fencers Fatima Rebuyas and Karen Sorizo fell short against the veteran players of Malaysia and Vietnam in the individual epee junior sabre divisions. Rebuyas faltered against Nguyen Thi Ngan of Vietnam, 15-11, while Sorizo lost to Filipino Mary Rose Alfonso, 15-13, in the qualifiers.
The SEAFC is organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.
