THE ATENEO Men’s Fencing Team finished as first and second runner-up in Men’s Team Epee and Men’s Team Saber, respectively, on Thursday, February 13, at Paco Arena in Manila City. The result brings the side’s medal tally to one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes in their University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 campaign.

Men’s Team Saber

Team Captain Jolo Viceo, Daniel Britanico, Polo Llagas, and Chio Reyno suited up for the Men’s Team Saber. They were seeded number two which guaranteed at least a bronze finish and a direct slot in the semifinals to face the De La Salle University Green Archers.

Llagas stormed out of the gate with five successive points to open the Blue Eagles’ Day 3, 5-0. La Salle answered, keeping themselves within striking distance from Ateneo until the last bout. The Katipunan-based side surrendered a two-point lead when the Green Archers blitzed to a 7-1 run, eliminating the Blue and White, 41-45.

Men’s Team Epee

Later in the afternoon, the second-seeded Ateneo Men’s Epee Team were placed directly in the semifinals, with the third-seeded University of Santo Tomas advancing as their foe. Representing Ateneo were Miggy Bautista, Simon Borja, Josh Bucad, and Michael Heraldo.

The Blue and White were at a disadvantage early on until Bautista brought his A game to reclaim the lead for Ateneo. The Blue Eagles never relinquished the lead from that point,  slowly building a comfortable lead to secure their finals berth against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 45-36.

Ateneo took the lead to start the finals courtesy of Borja and Bautista, 10-8. However, the Red Warriors launched a valiant effort to snatch the lead. The Blue Eagles kept UE at bay before the lead ballooned to five, 31-36. 

Bautista was called for the final bout to try and overturn the deficit. He looked on course to do so as he went on a 7-4 run, 38-40. However, UE’s Sam Tranquilan gave Bautista a taste of his own medicine as he scored five straight to claim the gold for the Red Warriors, 38-45.

After the finals loss, Bautista discussed the situation in the deciding bout. “I was trying different things, finding ways to hit him but [Tranquilan] was really good at changing his tactics and adapting to what I was doing,” he shared. “[UE] has a solid team but we put up a good fight.”

The Ateneo Men’s Fencing Team will conclude their UAAP Season 82 campaign with the Team Foil event on Friday, February 14, 1:00 PM, at Paco Arena in Manila City.