Lady Fencers improve to third, Green Fencers take stepdown to fifth

The DLSU Lady Fencers and Green Fencers emerged from the UAAP Season 78 Fencing Tournament in third and fifth place, respectively, a little over a year after both teams finished in fourth place. This year’s tournament was played from February 10 to 13 and was held at the Blue Eagle Gym of the Ateneo De Manila University in Quezon City.

University of the East dominated the competition, as both the Red Warriors and Lady Warriors capped off another successful title run after clinching a double championship for the fourth straight year.

Green Fencers team captain Rayd Orozco managed to take home the bronze medal at the Men’s Epee event after holding his own against the elite fencers from UST and UE. Former UE high school fencer Francois Licono made his UAAP debut for La Salle in Season 78 and quickly made contributions after bagging bronze medals in the Men’s Sabre and Foil events.

The Lady Fencers, on the other hand, bagged two bronze medals of their own in the individual events behind the efforts of rookies Karyl Shoemaker (Women’s Sabre) and Divine Romero (Women’s Epee), with the latter also placing second in the Women’s Foil event. Although the rookies from both teams immediately made an impact in their UAAP debuts, the veterans from both Men’s and Women’s teams were unable to capitalize on their efforts from last season.

Orozco, Licono, Gian Rodriguez, and Marco Gatpandan managed to bag the bronze medal in the Team Epee event, but Orozco, Licono, Rodriguez, and Jose Anonuevo finished in last place in the Team Sabre event. May Montenegro, Romero, Mikaela Castilo, and Patricia Miravite settled for bronze in the Team Foil event after falling in the semifinal round to the UP Lady Maroons, 45-43.

On the final day of competition, Orozco, Licono, Rodriguez, and Jairus Quevada garnered a bronze medal in the Team Foil event despite losing their match to the UP Fighting Maroons.

Meanwhile, Montenegro, Romero, Castilo, and Nichole Apacible were crushed by the UE Lady Warriors, 45-26, in the Team Epee event, settling for the silver medal. Montenegro, Romero, Shoemaker, and Jianne Piguing also competed in the team Sabre event, gaining a bronze medal after falling to UST.

With their fifth-place finish, the Green Fencers added six points to La Salle’s UAAP GC tally, while the Lady Fencers added 10 points for finishing in third place. GC rivals UST came away with second place in both the men’s and women’s divisions, with each team earning 12 points in the process.