Samantha Catantan led University of the East in opening its nine-peat bid in the girls’ division in style Tuesday in the UAAP Season 82 High School Fencing Tournament at the Paco Arena.
A former Asian U23 gold medalist, Catantan ruled the girls’ individual foil with a 15-5 romp of Maricar Matienzo in an all-Junior Warriors final.
Catantan, a Grade 12 student who also won bronze in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, is on her final year with UE.
The 10-peat seeking Junior Warriors, meanwhile, swept two boys golds on opening day.
Aurell Florence Obzunar scored a 15-9 win over Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Edan Esmantan in the boys’ epee final.
Jesus Anthony Tolentino nipped Ateneo’s Enrico Suplico, 15-13, in the boys saber gold medal match.
UE’s Shawn Nicollei Felipe and University of Santo Tomas’ Christian Mira bagged bronze medals in the boys’ epee.
Reigning boys MVP Prince John Felipe of UE and Raven Cabaero of UST made it to the saber podium.
UST’s Janna Catantan and Patricia Daladar took the girls’ foil bronze medals.
Action resumes at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
