THE ATENEO Fencing Team brought home medals in all team events they participated in today in the last day of competition for the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) fencing tournament on Saturday, February 11 at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Gymnasium in Morayta.
Women’s epee team
The women’s epee team consisting of Andie Ignacio, Pat Sarmiento, and Gabby Jimenez began the day with a semifinals match against the host team, UST. Ignacio started off the match decently, scoring 4-5. Unfortunately, Sarmiento only scored one on her turn on the piste, which gave UST an early lead that they did not surrender. Ignacio then made a herculean comeback late in the game by singlehandedly bringing the team back from being down 28-33. With the score tied at 40-all, Ignacio received MVP chants from the crowd, as she attempted to score the winning point. The team would go on to win the match at 41-40 and advance to the finals.
However, the finals match-up was against fencing powerhouse University of the East (UE). Sarmiento would go 2-5 in the first rotation and UE would go on to hold the lead to the very end. With each passing rotation, the deficit would continue to grow until UE would eventually end the game at 28-45 and win the gold for the women’s epee team event, while Ateneo takes the silver medal.
Women’s sabre team
The Blue and White was represented in the women’s sabre team competition by Justine Joseph, Audrey Uyan, Andie Ignacio, and Sam Viliran. The quartet went against De La Salle University (DLSU) to start the day for a place in the semifinals and they took the advantage early, the lead going to 22-12 at one point in the match. DLSU would rally back and after Uyan went 4-5, the lady fencers found themselves down by one. Ignacio then proceeded to pull the team back after coming in with the score at 34-35. She went 6-2 and then Joseph took over, held the lead, and Ateneo would triumph 45-43 in the end.
Ateneo would find themselves matched up against UE yet again, where the Red Warriors broke away early after Uyan went 0-5, giving UE the lead with the score at 10-20. Joseph would pick up the slack for her teammates, cutting into the lead whenever she was on the piste. In the end however, UE took the win with a score of 38-45. The team still brought home a bronze medal thanks to their first victory.
Men’s foil team
The men’s foil team consisting of Kyle Lim, Red Limjoco, Coby Villanueva, and Joshua Yu also matched up against DLSU in the first game. Ateneo broke ahead early and kept on scoring, with the lead going as high as thirteen. DLSU made an impressive comeback by keeping Villanueva to just two points in an extended scoring run for the Green Archers, that cut the deficit to 4 with a score of 27-23. Villanueva would get his revenge afterwards, as he was able to double Ateneo’s three point lead on his next rotation and the Eagles eventually took the match, 45-38.
With a bronze medal assured, the team had to face UE in their next game. Going up against a team filled with national team representatives, the blue fencers looked helpless as UE started the match with 13-0 run. In the end, Ateneo would only be able to score three points. The match ended at a dominating 3-45, emphasizing UE’s supremacy yet again.
Medal tally
The men’s division finished the tournament at fourth place, just outside the podium, with a total of three bronze medals. The women’s division returns to the Eagle’s nest with a trophy as their impressive haul of one gold, two silvers, and three bronze medals was enough to earn them the 1st runner-up slot, right behind UE.
Rookie RV Libarios nabbed one of the rookie of the year awards along with Gerard Hernandez from the University of the Philippines. The women’s division most valuable player award went to supersenior Andie Ignacio who has used up her eligibility her in the UAAP Fencing Tournament this year.
“We fared better than last year, because this year, everyone got medals,” says Foil coach Ryan Janeo. “Season 79 was a surprise.”
However, for Season 80, the team will go back to the drawing board and look for others to step up as many key players will be graduating such as MVP Andie Ignacio, silver medallist Pat Sarmiento, and team captain Justine Joseph.
The Ateneo Lady Eagles ended the tourney as the 1st runner-ups with Andie Igancio garnering the Most Valuable Player award.
https://storify.com/TheGUIDONSports/uaap-season-79-fencing-day-4
