DLSU Fencing squads performed steady this season to manage an equal podium finish. The Green Fencers ended the season with a 0-2-2 gold-silver-bronze medal tally while the ladies ended with a 1-0-2 tally. Both teams ended the season as second runners-up. The UAAP Fencing tournament was held at the Philsports Arena in Pasay City from December 11-14.
The male fencers finished better than the team’s last season finish at fourth place. The Lady Fencers, meanwhile, ended the season a place lower than last year.
Early surge for the lead
Both squads started out strong in the first day of the four-day meet. The Green Fencers was at second place behind Gian Franco Rodriguez’ bronze medal in the Foil category. Fifth year Lady Fencer Geisha De Leon’s gold in the women’s individual Sabre and reigning Rookie of the Year Chiara Nadine Licono’s bronze in the same category pushed the whole Lady Fencer squad above any team in the competition in the first day.
The ladies went cold
After a good show in the opening day, the Lady Fencers failed to follow up in the next three game dates.
The squad only tallied a single bronze in that length of time. The single bronze medal came from the women’s team Sabre composed of De Leon, Licono, May Montenegro, and Johnin Mariel Hao.
Green Fencers grabbed more medals
The men’s team tried to win as more medals in the next three days.
Rodriguez again headed the team for another medal, but this time, the team bagged silver in the men’s Epee category. The four-man Green Fencer team also bagged silver in the Epee event for the team category. Rodriguez headed the Epee team along with Dan Rowell Rebuyas, Marco Jerome Gatpandan, and Raymund Orozco.
The Green Fencers also faired it well on the Foil team category. Rodriguez and Orozco saw action backed by Herminio Banico III and Jairus Eleazer Quevada to complete the four-man team. The team pulled the last medal, a bronze, for the Green Fencers.
Finishing close
UE dominated the men’s and women’s events, tallying far better than any team.
Ateneo tallied a 2-0-0 slate above DLSU’s 0-2-2. Since gold has a higher point in the team total, the Green Fencers could not steal the bridesmaid position from Ateneo despite tallying more medals.A gold medal could have given DLSU a higher ranking this season.
On the other hand, UST was just a silver medal above DLSU in the women’s division. Also, a single gold medal could have brought the Lady Fencers a place higher than its second runner-up finish.
