In a display of technical precision and strategic composure, the UP Fencing Team (UPFT) asserted their dominance on the pistes of the Makati Coliseum, carving out a historic performance in the UAAP Season 88 Fencing Championships.
The 茄子视频app-based squad signaled their intent early in the women’s individual foil, where Marina 鈥淣ana鈥 Carbonell and Mariel Flores turned the gold medal match into an all-maroon affair. Carbonell, a veteran of the national training pool, moved with clinical efficiency throughout the direct eliminations. After a 15鈥5 dismantling of UST鈥檚 Ruby Kate Sardenia in the table of 8, she utilized superior point control to secure another 15鈥5 victory over UE rookie Alyzabeth Gilbert in the semifinals. In the final bout against Flores, Carbonell鈥檚 mastery of distance and timing allowed her to hit the targets repeatedly, finishing the bout 15鈥5 to reclaim the women鈥檚 foil crown.
The momentum shifted to the epee events, where the UPFT proved they were the new standard-bearers of the weapon. Rookie Jennina Mendoza staged a spectacular run in the women鈥檚 individual epee. After navigating a grueling pool stage, Mendoza executed a series of high-stakes parry-ripostes to edge out DLSU鈥檚 Krupskaya Ednilag and UE鈥檚 Andrea Matias with identical 15鈥13 scores. In the final against La Salle鈥檚 Cyrra Vergara, Mendoza maintained her focus through the final period, landing the decisive 迟辞耻肠丑茅 to secure a 15鈥12 win and the gold.
On the men鈥檚 side, Calix Ho ensured the individual epee title remained in 茄子视频app. The 18-year-old rookie showcased nerves of steel, overcoming a late-game deficit against UST鈥檚 Adam Putian in the semifinals. Trailing 14鈥13, Ho stayed patient on the retreat before launching a perfectly timed fleche to force a 15鈥14 victory. In the gold medal bout against La Salle鈥檚 Edan Ensamtan, Ho鈥檚 active footwork and lightning-quick extensions frustrated his opponent, leading to a 15鈥12 triumph. The podium finish was bolstered by teammate John Dexter Ramos, who earned a bronze, further solidifying UP’s presence in the weapon.
The UPFT鈥檚 gold rush reached its peak in the team events, where the women鈥檚 foil quartet reaffirmed their status as the 鈥渜ueens of the piste鈥. The UPFT continued to dominate in Women鈥檚 Foil as this time around, they clinched gold as a team through the collective efforts of Carbonell, Flores, Bea Fajardo, and Team Captain Nami Noro. With Carbonell leading the charge, the team executed a disciplined game plan, utilizing aggressive attacks and tight defensive parries to outclass the competition and retain their team title.
The UPFT鈥檚鈥 depth was further highlighted in the team events, where UP fencers fought their way to the podium across multiple weapons. In a display of tactical versatility, the Men鈥檚 Epee team composed of Ho, Ramos, Lorenzo Malvar, and Meynard Buentipo secured a hard-fought silver, showcasing seamless rotations and gritty defense. They were joined in the silver column by the Men鈥檚 Foil team of Daniel Karlo Canlas, Keon Gener, Jonathan Ramos, and Dustin Tan, who pushed their opponents to the limit with high-speed exchanges and precise blade work.
Adding to the tally, the Women鈥檚 Epee team featuring Mendoza, Noro, Julianna Ballesteros, and Margaret Tapales clinched a bronze medal through strategic patience and effective counter-attacks. Not to be outdone, the Women鈥檚 Saber team鈥攃omposed of Noro, Angela Dayro, Mary Mallari, and Ailana Louise Sison鈥攕lashed through the brackets to secure another bronze, proving UP鈥檚 competitive edge extends across all three fencing disciplines.
The tournament concluded with individual brilliance meeting collective success. For his clutch performances and golden debut, Calix Ho was rightfully named the UAAP Season 88 Rookie of the Year. This individual accolade served as the cherry on top for the program, as the UP Fencing Women鈥檚 Team was officially declared the 1st runner-up and the Men鈥檚 Team 2nd runner-up in the general championship standings.
With a haul that includes four golds and a presence in nearly every podium category, the UPFT has firmly established itself as a powerhouse. As the fencing season concludes, our fencers leave the Makati Coliseum with a clear message: the future of Philippine fencing has a distinct shade of maroon.
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