University of the East extended two of its championship dynasties by claiming the collegiate men’s and high school boys’ titles of the UAAP Season 88 Fencing Championships on Sunday at the Makati Coliseum.
The Red Warriors secured their 13th straight UAAP men’s title, while the Junior Warriors kept the longest league streak alive with a 14th consecutive crown.
The men’s squad captured their second gold of the season, bouncing back from a gold-less sabre individual campaign with a triumph in the team event, virtually sealing the championship following the afternoon’s results.
Rookie and national team upstart Khiane Felipe led the charge in the Red Warriors’ 45–27 domination of individual champion Kurt Mauruquez–led De La Salle University in the final, making amends for his earlier shaky individual performance.
The gold-winning squad also featured elder Shawn Felipe, Christian Anthony Concepcion, and Charles Babatio — the quartet that helped UE build an insurmountable 2–3–2 medal tally.
“Palagay ko naman pong sinasabi na masaya po kami sa results na nakukuha namin. Hindi man po lahat ng athlete nakukuha ‘yung gold, pero binibigay po namin lahat ng best namin para makuha po ‘yung championship. And thank God, at least, nakuha po namin ‘yung championship uli,” said Shawn Felipe, reflecting on the record-extending championship with a day still to go and with their main weapon, the foil, yet to be contested on Monday.
“Importante po talaga na may nagli-lead sa’min. Alam naman po namin ‘yung goal namin ever since ‘pag mag-start ang UAAP, pero dahil sa pressure po, medyo nawawala. Pero nung kinausap po kami ni coach na nasa amin naman na po talaga ‘yung decision or kapangyarihan kung kukunin namin, talagang nag-mindset na kami na ibibigay namin ang lahat,” added the fourth-year student-athlete.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, James Lim and the Junior Warriors swept the day’s golds, boosting their medal tally to 3–2–1 — two golds ahead of the competition with only the foil team event remaining on Monday, all but securing their 14th straight crown.
Lim and Brynt Gale paced the squads that claimed the epee team final, 45–21, over the UST Junior Male Fencers, and the sabre team gold, 45–38, against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
“Masaya po ako kasi hindi ko inexpect na mag-go-gold po kami [sa] teams, pero alam ko po naman po na kaya namin. Nagte-thank you po ako sa support ng teammates ko at sa mga nagche-cheer sa ‘min. And, isa na nga lang po ‘yung iniintay namin — ‘yung main weapon po, kaya mas gagalingan pa po namin bukas para makuha pa rin namin ‘yung gold medal po,” Lim, a two-time UAAP Boys’ MVP, shared.
The Red Warriors’ men’s title was practically sealed after the University of Santo Tomas stunned top-seeded teams De La Salle and the University of the Philippines in the epee team event.
Male fencer Adam Putian completed the Cinderella run in overtime against individual titlist and Fighting Maroon Calix Ho, 44–43, denying back-to-back golds for the Diliman-based squad and handing UE the overall men’s crown.
On the women’s side, the UP Fighting Maroons retained the foil team title, with Nana Carbonell and her squad securing a 45–25 win over the UE Lady Warriors.
Meanwhile, Opao Cantantan and the Junior Lady Warriors kept their championship hopes alive with a dominant 45–14 rout of De La Salle Zobel.
In the men’s division, the DLSU Green Fencers stayed in second place with a 1–2–2 medal tally, just ahead of the UP Fighting Maroons (1–1–2) and the UST Male Fencers (1–0–3). PAREF Southridge School and DLSZ each earned a bronze, setting up an exciting battle for the boys’ second spot.
UP leads the women’s race with a 3–1–0 tally, with two events remaining — the epee and sabre teams — while UE trails closely at 1–1–5. DLSU and UST remain tied for third with identical 0–1–1 records.
In the girls’ division, UST hopes to overtake defending champion UE in the remaining two events. The Junior Female Fencers stand at 2–3–2, with the Junior Lady Warriors close behind at 2–0–3.
DLSZ Junior Lady Fencers moved into third place following a silver medal in the foil team event.
