UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas set its golden double bid in motion for the collegiate level of the UAAP Season 85 Fencing Championships, Thursday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena in Manila.
Allysah Catantan took the women’s first gold of the tournament — in foil individual — to put the Lady Fencers in the lead, winning over University of the East’s Maricar Matienzo, 15-9
“Sa tingin ko po, ituloy lang namin kung paano kami ngayon,” the 19-year-old standout shared.
Catantan added, “Kasi gusto ko po yung crowd eh. Talagang united po kami talaga sa pag-cheer. Malaking bagay po sa kin yung nagchi-cheer talaga sila. Na-feel ko na naniniwala sila sa ‘kin.”
Lady Red Warrior Eytria Olarte and University of the Philippines’ Nami Noro bagged the two bronzes.
UST also paces the men’s side alongside the 11-peat-seeking Red Warriors with one gold each.
Daniel Villanueva took the men’s sabre individual title against Enrico Suplico of Ateneo, 15-8. On the other hand, UE’s Francis Felipe outlasted De La Salle University’s Darylle Lumahan in men’s epee, 15-10.
The Green Fencers and the Blue Eagles are tied in third place with their one silver and one bronze haul.
The Junior Warriors, though, flexed their muscles in the high school division.
The boys’ squad pocketed the epee title and the sabre silver with Von Eubert Gale and Khiane Nash Felipe, respectively, to lead after the first day.
Gale dominated Paolo Salido of UST, 15-8, in the final, while Ateneo’s Thomas Cabrera denied Felipe and UE a sweep for the day, 15-12, in the title match.
On the distaff side, Shekinah Catantan won the all-UE final against Aubrey Fernandez, 15-7, to grab the gold in foil individual.
Ateneo and De La Salle Zobel stay in second in the boys’ and girls’ divisions, respectively, behind UE.
