By: Waylon Galvez
Four fencers from the University of the East delivered golden moments for the Red Warriors, securing top podium finishes at the 2026 Philippine Fencing Association Dr. Celso L. Dayrit Memorial Fencing Championships cadet and junior first leg rankings held over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Nina Canlas led the charge for the Red and White, claiming gold medals in both the junior (Under-21) and cadet (Under-17) women’s epee events. The annual tournament serves as a selection platform for the youth national team for international competitions, including next year’s Asian and World Championships.
Canlas defeated Faith Olemos of Oblation Fencing, 15-10, in the cadet division finals on Saturday, then clinched the junior gold with a 15-8 victory over Justa Sandoval of the University of the Philippines on Sunday to cap the two-day tournament.
Competing in the event is crucial for fencers, Canlas said, as it allows them to move up in the rankings and opens opportunities to compete abroad in FIE-sanctioned events.
At the same time, like in the UAAP, they are proud to represent UE in the rankings.
“Kahit na pagod from UAAP, mahalaga pa rin na makapag-rankings para magkaroon ng opportunity na makapag-compete abroad and of course, represent the country. I’m very thankful for my teammates, coaches, titas and titos, friends, and family for ever-supporting me every time I have a competition,” said Canlas, the eldest of three children of UE mentor Amat Canlas.
“I think kung bakit solid ang UE sa Cadet and Junior level kasi ini-expose ka nila sa mga training and competitions. With these competitions, marami kang matututunan, like kung ano ang gagawin mo sa mga ganitong situations para natural na lang sa’yo. Susuportahan ka ng UE at ng mga coaches sa mga competitions. Consistent training is isa rin sa program ng UE, para ready sa mga upcoming competitions, locally or internationally,” she added.
Her sister Nicol, a 15-year-old Grade 9 student, ruled the women’s saber event, surviving a tense final against Wynter Ang of Greenhills Christian Fellowship-International Christian School with a 15-12 win.
A day later, she shared the bronze medal with Estelliah Gilliana of the University of Santo Tomas in the junior division. Nicol lost 15-7 to Filipino-Canadian Nadelle Turiano in the semifinals but defeated Gilliana, 15-11, to secure third place. Turiano claimed the gold with a 15-13 win over Arianna Tiu of Republic Fencing.
Like the senior rankings, the fencing association uses a point system to determine overall standings. First place earns 12 points, second 10, third 9, fourth 8, with points awarded down to the last place.
In the women’s foil cadet event, Willa Galvez, also a Grade 9 UE student-athlete, capitalized on the absence of tournament favorite Sophia “Opao” Catantan, who sustained a right hamstring strain in the quarterfinals, to claim gold with a 15-12 victory in the finals.
Despite dealing with cramps in both calves and a strained right groin, Galvez advanced to the gold medal match with a 15-5 win over UE teammate Yuna Canlas in the quarterfinals and a 15-8 semifinal triumph against Victoria Ebdane of Global Home School.
Oscar del Castillo, a 13-year-old Grade 8 student at Saint Pedro Poveda College, blocked Jodie Tan of St. Jude Catholic School from reaching the finals with a 15-12 semifinal win. The two met again in the junior finals, where del Castillo narrowly defeated Tan, 15-13.
Tan made it to the finals after Galvez withdrew due to a groin strain with under two minutes remaining in the first of three rounds of the semifinals. Del Castillo advanced with a 15-12 win over Victoria Malvar of Faith Academy in Antipolo City.
Galvez and Malvar took bronze in junior women’s foil, while Tan and Ebdane earned bronze in cadet women’s foil.
Charles Babatio, 19, a second-year Hospitality Management student, capped UE’s campaign by winning the junior men’s saber gold with a 15-11 victory over UAAP junior champion Vito Coching of De La Salle University.
Other UE podium finishers included silver medalists Rainier Cadiente in cadet men’s foil and Ruzel Gallano in junior men’s epee, as well as bronze medalists Ryona Salvante in cadet women’s saber, Hans Capricho in cadet men’s saber, Mika Ragot in junior women’s epee, and James Lim and Brynt Gale in junior men’s foil.
Gold medals in other categories went to Oscar del Castillo of La Salle Green Hills in cadet men’s epee, Gabriel Chua of Xavier School in cadet men’s foil, Antonio Baydid of the University of Santo Tomas in cadet men’s saber, Jacob Mayo of Republic Fencing in junior men’s epee, and Filipino-American Nathan Canlas in junior men’s foil.
