THE OPENING day of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Fencing Tournament saw turbulent eliminations earlier today at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion in the City of Manila. The Ateneo Fencing Team struggled through their Day 1 campaign, suffering complete losses in two individual events but gaining two podium finishes from Men’s Sabre.

The Lady Eagles faced back-to-back losses in the Women’s Foil event. Blue Eagle Yelena Martinez failed to qualify for the elimination rounds after fierce pooling matches. In the same event, Team Captain Jesyca Khoo bested her foe in the pre-elimination round. Shortly after, Khoo placed seventh overall after falling nine points behind the University of the East’s internationally ranked Eytria Olarte. 

In the Men’s Sabre event, the Blue Eagle duo of Enrico Suplico and Andre Agatep pierced their way up the podium. After beating both of their opponents in the quarterfinals, the Blue and White set off for an invigorating semifinal match against one another. Finishing above now-bronze medalist Agatep, Suplico advanced to the Finals with a 15-9 win-loss record and clinched the Men’s first silver medal after an intense match with UST’s Eunice Daniel Villanueva. 

Concluding the day with a deficit, the Men’s Fencing team suffered their first two losses in the Epee event. While Blue Eagle Joaquin Recio did not qualify for the elimination rounds, teammate Trino Montinola set up a vigorous start to his quarterfinal match. After Montinola fumbled a 10-4 lead, Darylle Joshua Lumahan of De La Salle University secured the match after a grinding climb to 15-14, in favor of the Taft-based troupe. 

The Ateneo Fencing Team will continue their fight for the gold on Day 2 of the UAAP Season 85 Fencing Tournament tomorrow, February 24, at 9:00 AM at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.