THE ATENEO Fencing Team kept their medal streak alive in day three of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 campaign with another bronze, this time in the Men’s Sabre Team category. Today’s matches were held earlier at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in the City of Manila.
Women’s Team Foil
The Blue Eagles opened the third day of competition with vigor by taking control of the second and third individual bouts. Yelena Martinez and Beatrice Ursolino set the pace against their counterparts from De La Salle University (DLSU) to dominate the board, 14-12. In the following stint, Patricia Cablay successfully redeemed her first bout against Cyrra Vergara to give Ateneo a two-point team advantage, 20-18.
Unfazed by the Blue and White’s strong start, Vergara responded in the fifth bout with increased aggression against Ursolino for a formidable lead, 25-21. The Lasallian foilists successfully sustained their offensive momentum to stay in the driver’s seat, preventing another upturn from the Blue Eagles. The last bout saw Vergara leading her team to victory by keeping Martinez scoreless, 5-0, eliminating Ateneo in the process.
Men’s Team Sabre
After automatically securing a spot in the semifinals via a quarterfinal bye, the quartet of Enrico Suplico, Andre Agatep, Thomas Cabrera, and Raphael Jimenez were set to face the University of the East in the Men’s Sabre category.
The Blue Eagles initially faced an early disadvantage as the Red Warriors immediately established their skill on the strip by locking in a five-point lead after the first two bouts, 10-15. Determined to regain control, Agatep claimed a 10-point victory over Shawn Felipe, 15-14.
In the fifth bout, UE’s Felipe regained the lead over Ateneo’s Suplico, 25-23, to spark an upturn for the Red Warriors. In the following matches, the UE sabreurs maintained their offensive hold over the Blue Eagles, who ended up with the bronze despite bowing out of the contest, 40-45.
Men’s Team Épée
Looking to bank on their medal performance earlier in the morning, the now two-time medalist Agatep joined fellow épéeists Ramon Angelo Gabriel Nuñez, Magnus Sin, and Jotham Thai on the piste.
Facing their rivals from Taft, the Blue Eagles were turned back despite their best efforts. Despite Agatep securing six touches scored to five in his bout against Green Fencer Ken Panes, Ateneo ultimately fell 23-45 to DLSU, concluding their stint for day three.
The Blue Eagles will look to finish strong in the hopes of a podium finish on the final day of competition tomorrow, April 25, 9:00 AM, at the same venue.
