WITH the stigma of a dismal fourth-place finish last year, the UST Male Fencers redeemed themselves this year by finishing second with a 2-1-2 gold-silver-bronze medal tally in the UAAP Fencing tournament last Feb. 11-12 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
“We were able to accomplish this feat because the players are helping each other to become better,” UST epee coach Arman Bernal told the Varsitarian.
Leading the way for UST is Bernal’s younger brother, Arnel, who defeated teammate and Season 69 Rookie of the Year Harris Orendain, 15-5, in an all Thomasian finals showdown for the individual epee title. Earlier, the younger Bernal subdued junior RP team players Ezekiel Orlina of Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo), 15-13, and Michael Guitterez of University of the East (UE), 15-7, for a finals seed.
On the other hand, Orendain defeated Ateneo’s Ralph Hernandez, 15-9, and Phil Ituralde of the University of the Philippines (UP), 15-12 to earn a spot in the individual epee finals.
In team epee, Bernal and Orendain became the lethal combination in steering UST to close-call victories over UE in the semifinals, 45-44, (semis) and Ateneo, 45-41, (finals).
“Harris and I really wanted to prove that being young is not a hindrance to doing well,” Bernal said.
In team sabre, UST put up a valiant stand against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Fencers, 45-41, to garner the bronze. In the semifinals of the event, UST lost to eventual champions UE, 32-45.
“Although the sabre team did not make it to the finals, I was still impressed by their performance, because they remained focused despite not getting the calls we felt were due us,” UST sabre coach Ricardo Fuenzalida said.
In foil division action, UST had a tough time playing three matches on the same day, but still escaped with a 45-44 nailbiter over UP for third place.
Better luck next time
On the distaff side, the UST Lady Fencers placed fourth for the second straight year after registering a lackluster 0-3-2 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.
UST’s lone bright spot was Mercelyn Locsin who bagged the silver in the individual and team sabre event.
Locsin fell short against Season 68 Rookie of the Year Mary Rose Alfonso of UE, 9-15, in individual sabre finals. Earlier, she drew first blood from Ateneo’s Marie Sacdalan, 15-9.
In team sabre, Locsin, along with Rowniel Yumul and Ma. Fatima Rebuyas propelled UST to a hard-earned triumph over Ateneo, 45-43. UST, however, faltered in the titular match against UE, 40-45, to place second.
The veteran Locsin also won the bronze medal in the individual foil event after defeating FEU’s Ana Gorayeb, 15-12, in a battle for crumbs. The win redeemed Locsin’s heartbreaking loss to Ateneo’s Lafayette Garcia, 10-15, that denied UST’s bet of a championship berth.
UST also fell short of a finals bid in the team epee event after a 36-45 loss to UP in the semifinals but went on to bounce back in a 45-41 thumping of UE for a bronze.
The España-based Lady Fencers also won bronze in the team foil event by drubbing UE, 45-37, in another showdown for third.
“Mercy (Locsin) somehow did it all that her teammates went on to be complacent in their attacks,” Fuenzalida said.
