THE UST Junior Fencers snagged silver in the boys’ and girls’ divisions of the UAAP Season 87 high school fencing tournament, which culminated at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Friday, April 25.
The boys’ team finished second for the second year in a row with a 1-2-4 gold-medal bronze haul.
Meanwhile, in girls’ play, UST ended the tournament with a 2-1-2 tally to clinch silver, an improvement from last season’s bronze finish.
Ian Miranda (epee) and Marianne Castro (foil and saber) took home the Rookie of the Year award in the boys’ and girls’ divisions, respectively.
“Maganda ‘yong nilaro nila, medyo kinapos lang talaga sa score kaya hindi nahabol,” UST saber coach Donnie Navarro told the Varsitarian. “Pero okay naman. Overall na performance ng players okay naman.”
In girls’ saber, Marian Castro, Estelliah Gillana, Bailey Olayres, and Kathleen Tuy captured gold after edging out UE’s Nicol Canlas, Opao Catantan, Kirsten Catantan, and Ryona Salvante to secure a three-peat in the category.
UST’s foil team of Ranzel Aberilla, Hanz de la Peña, Prince Geronimo, and Rayne Maravilla settled for silver, while Lady Bathan, Dahlia Capuno, Althea Lopez, and Arabella Peña copped bronze in girls’ epee.
UST has yet to win a high school division championship since the inclusion of the boys’ (Season 71) and girls’ (Season 75) categories in the UAAP fencing tournament.
Meanwhile, UE continued its dominance in the high school division, with its boys’ and girls’ teams winning their 12th and 10th straight titles, respectively. Joaquin Edgardo A. Cortez
