By: Waylon Galvez
Team Philippines finally found a way to reach the top of the podium after the women’s foil team and men’s saber squad ruled their respective categories in the 2026 Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Cadet and Junior Championship on Tuesday, August 11, at the Arena TSH OCM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The triumvirate of Victoria Ebdane, Willa Galvez, and Jodie Tan joined forces to capture the women’s foil team gold after defeating Vietnam, 44-37, in the finals.
After dispatching Philippines Team B, composed of Yuna Canlas, Hagia del Castillo, and Victoria Malvar, in a nail-biting 29-28 semifinal victory, Philippines Team A took control early and never looked back in the title bout.
Protecting a slim 9-6 lead, the 15-year-old Galvez, a member of the multi-titled University of the East fencing team, outscored Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, 10-1, in the fourth of nine bouts to give the Philippines a commanding 19-7 advantage.
Galvez, whose international participation is backed by Nickel Asia Corporation, with support from NLEX Corporation, Rain or Shine, the MVP Sports Foundation, Strong Group Athletics, Pocari Sweat, and Icons Sports Management Services, accounted for 21 of the team’s 44 points.
Ebdane added 13 points, while Tan contributed 10.
In men’s saber, national team member Khiane Felipe teamed up with Vito Coching, Drake Chung, and Matthew General as the Philippines defeated Thailand, 45-40, in the finals.
The two gold medals brought the national junior team’s haul to two gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.
Estelliah Gilliana, Hailey Sophia Peters, Arianna Tiu, and Nadelle Turiano earned silver in the women’s saber team event.
Oscar del Castillo, who won silver in men’s individual epee, also claimed bronze alongside Joaquin De Silos, Jacob Mayo, and Boo Geronimo in the men’s team epee event.
Also earning bronze medals were Team B (Canlas, Del Castillo, and Malvar) in women’s foil; Rhiana Cruz, Eleina Junia, Faith Olemos, and Papina Torre in women’s epee; and Inigo Divinagracia, Lucas Palafox, Jethro Chan, and Elijah Timbol in men’s foil.
Galvez also won a bronze medal in women’s individual foil on Monday after beating Singapore’s Sita Naidu Maaravis, 15-14, in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion and Malaysian national team member Suraya Rizzal, 15-8, in the semifinals.
Action continues with the cadet category, with the individual epee, foil, and saber events scheduled for August 12 and 13, followed by the team events on August 14.
