Fencers enter UAAP wars with nothing to lose

Two teams who will be raring to help defend DLSU’s UAAP General Championship in the second half of the league are the DLSU Green Fencers and Lady Fencers, who are hoping to improve from their respective third place finishes last season.

“We all have to have our own contributions to the general championship kasi it does not mean na pag panalo sa first sem, sure na,” says the Green Fencers’ team captain Rayd Orozco. “It’s always decided in the second round. Right now, La Salle’s first so now hopefully we can keep this up.”

Last season, both the Green Fencers and Lady Fencers came up with a total tally of one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals. That feat earned both teams respective third place finishes yet with a relatively intact core, they are confident that their medal haul will be a more fruitful one this year.

“Actually there were losses sa team namin, in both the men’s and women’s team,” Orozco mentions, adding that despite this, both teams gained new things. “Of course we always train hard, a year of training actually can contribute a lot sa skills namin, mindset and yung lakas ng loob so I think that’s enough for me to actually say that we could place, sa podium.”

“Our challenge is how we can maintain our solid showing last year,” adds Lady Fencer May Montenegro. “But we have a national team player, si Ate Nadine [Licono]. So may chance naman kami.”

With a year to get back to the drawing board, both teams have made their adjustments and have looked at the previous season as a lesson for this upcoming tournament.  From on court to off court preparations, the Green Fencers and the Lady Fencers have pulled out all the stops to prepare for this season.

“Actually, our coaches decided na sa first term, we focus talaga sa studies,” Orozco says, highlighting the importance of eligibility so that each one can play. “Right now, we have balanced studies and at the same time we’re doing double trainings, one in the morning and one in the evening, and minsan naghahapon din kami just to make sure everyone is conditioned.”

When it comes to UAAP Fencing, UE dominates the field as they have most of the national team players. Aside from them, schools like FEU and UST have the edge in certain blades like the foil and sabre, providing DLSU with tough competition on a yearly basis.

“Actually, for many years now, UE has actually been our toughest competitor talaga when it comes to fencing but we all look up to them kasi most of them are national team players,” Orozco says and explains that most of the UE players began their training when they were only 11 years old.

Yet even with this, both the Green Fencers and Lady Fencers are certain that they can get the job done.

“Right now, what we could say is our edge right now is we have nothing to lose,” Orozco confidently says. “Beating them means so much more kasi parang ang laging inaabangan sa UAAP is na kahit UE is always number one, the thing is, ang toughest competitor ng UE is DLSU.”

“We’re hoping for an upset, walang imposible,” Montenegro adds.