By: Waylon Galvez
University of the East (UE) standouts Khiane Felipe and Nina Canlas spearheaded the Philippines’ golden campaign in the 2025 Southeast Asian Fencing Federation (SEAFF) Cadet and Junior Championships, capturing top honors in their respective divisions at the Arena TSH in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Felipe, a 17-year-old rising star and national team member bound for his Southeast Asian Games debut this December in Thailand, delivered a masterful performance in the junior men’s sabre category. He capped his golden run with a dominant 15-8 win over Thailand’s Nathagorn Malaithong in the finals—his first SEAFF gold medal in the cadet and junior ranks.
The UE freshman, who is currently taking up Hospitality Management, opened his campaign with an unblemished 5-0 record in the preliminary pool round, which secured him the fourth seed entering the Direct Elimination bracket. He breezed through the round of 32 with a 15-4 rout of Malaysia’s Nigel Chee Yang Goh and followed it up with a 15-11 triumph over host country bet Zi Hao Teh in the round of 16.
The quarterfinals proved more intense, as Felipe had to dig deep to escape with a narrow 15-14 victory over Keane Leong U-Quan of Malaysia. He then outdueled Wei Terry Lee Dong, also from the host country, in the semifinals, 15-13, to book his spot in the gold medal match.
Felipe credited his success to the rigorous training under national team head coach and UE mentor Amat Canlas, as well as sabre specialists Chester Uy and Iranian tactician Alireza Taherkhani.
“This gold medal is a huge confidence boost, especially with the SEA Games just around the corner,” said Felipe. “I’m very thankful to our coaches for their patience and guidance, and to my teammates in UE and the national team for their support. This win is for them.”
Coming from a family of fencers, Felipe now hopes to follow in the footsteps of his brothers—current national team mainstay Kulai Felipe and former national team member Tipoy Felipe—by making a strong debut in the biennial regional meet.
“That’s really our goal—to perform well at the SEA Games,” he added. “This SEAFF win shows our preparations are heading in the right direction.”
Not to be outdone, 16-year-old Nina Canlas, daughter of Coach Amat Canlas, made her own mark in the cadet women’s epee division. The Grade 11 student secured the gold after a thrilling 15-14 victory over Singapore’s Isabella Ern Swan Lee in a heart-stopping final.
Seeded third in the Direct Eliminations, Canlas kicked off her campaign with a 15-7 win against Singapore’s Yen Ly Liow in the round of 32. She then edged Annabelle Ong Nhat Anh Thu, also from Singapore, 15-14 in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, she eliminated fellow Filipino Elena Junia, 15-11, and stunned second-seed En Qi Lee, 15-14, in the semifinals to reach the championship bout.
Her victory came just days after Enrico Fuentes of PAREF Southridge also brought home gold for the Philippines with a nail-biting 15-14 win against Singapore’s Benjamin Shijie Lee in the junior men’s epee final.
UE’s medal haul continued with Louis Shoemaker claiming a bronze in the junior men’s foil individual event. He then helped power the Philippines to a gold medal in the junior men’s foil team event, teaming up with James Lim, Antonio Gregorio Manuel of Asia Academic Integrated School, and Derek Perez of Ateneo to defeat Malaysia, 45-43, in a tightly contested final.
Miyake Capina of De La Salle Zobel added a silver to the country’s tally in the junior women’s foil category, falling to Malaysia’s Surayya Rizzal, 14-7, in the finals. Bronze medals were also secured by Jada Divinagracia of Multiple Intelligence International School and Hannah Belarmino of Ateneo in the same division.
Shoemaker, who is also set to debut in the SEA Games later this year, narrowly missed a finals appearance after bowing to eventual gold medalist Saif Nordin of Malaysia, 15-12, in the semifinals of the junior men’s foil.
UE fencers also figured prominently in team events. Aly Gilbert and Eia Mendoza joined forces with Belarmino and Ina Pascual of Republic Fencing to bag silver in the junior women’s foil team. In junior women’s sabre, Shy Catantan and Nicol Canlas teamed up with sisters Maiev and Medivh Boy for a bronze finish. Irish Manaois clinched bronze in junior women’s epee alongside Nina Canlas, Ivanna Salvador, and Tina Bueno. In junior men’s sabre, Charles Babatio and Anthony Concepcion contributed to another bronze, working with Felipe and DLSU’s Vito Coching.
Several other UE fencers also represented the country, including Willa Galvez, Yuna Canlas, and Leila Vizcayno in women’s foil; Marco Palmado in men’s sabre; Celyna Palmado in women’s sabre; and Boo Geronimo and Ruzel Gallano in men’s epee.
Galvez, who recently turned 14 and is supported by Nickel Asia Corporation, Rain or Shine, and NLEX, also bagged a gold medal in the SEAFF Minime competition. She joined forces with Hagia del Castillo and Nana Cruz to capture the under-14 women’s epee team crown. Galvez shone in the semifinals with 22 points in a 45-34 win over Malaysia, while del Castillo—individual gold medalist in under-14 foil—took charge in the finals with a team-high 14 points in a 31-26 win against Singapore.
More team triumphs came as the men’s foil trio of Elijah Timbol, Pico Montano, and Inigo Divinagracia pulled off a thrilling 45-42 comeback win over Malaysia B in the final after defeating them 45-27 in the semifinals. In men’s epee, Jude Canaveral, Joaquin de Silos, and Jacob Mayo outlasted Singapore B in the semis, 45-40, and then dominated Singapore A in the finals, 45-32.
The men’s sabre team composed of Drake Chung, Miguel de Guzman, Sean Ragos, and Aidan Taguinod settled for silver after a close 45-39 loss to Thailand in the finals. On the women’s side, Catantan, Canlas, and Elise Acuzar secured a bronze medal in the sabre team event to cap off a strong showing by the Filipino fencers.
