MANILA– University of the East (UE) stretched its overall domination of the men’s fencing to eight years while also regaining the championship of the distaff side at the closing of the UAAP Season 82 Collegiate Fencing Tournament at the Paco Arena on Friday.
The Red Warriors bested Ateneo De Manila University, 45-42, in the men’s team foil finals to complete a five gold and one silver medal haul for their 14th overall title. Sammuel Tranquilan ended his collegiate career with a third straight Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for UE.
Rookie-MVP clincher Queendenise Dalmacio, meanwhile, led the Lady Warriors in collecting four golds, one silver, and three bronze medals to flex a league-best 13th crown in the women’s category.
UE topped De La Salle University, 45-36, in the women’s team epee finals and returned in the afternoon with a 45-19 conquest over the University of Santo Tomas in the women’s team saber gold medal match.
Ateneo finished second in the men’s side with a 1-3-2 haul, while the Green Archers had a 0-1-5 tally for third place. In the women’s, De La Salle took the runner-up honors with a 1-2-1 slate, while last season’s champion Ateneo settled for third with 1-1-2.
In the high school division, UE Junior Warriors gave Samantha Catantan a fitting send-off by winning the ninth consecutive girls crown, while their boys’ team also dominated and achieved a 10-peat.
Behind Catantan’s heroics, UE rallied past University of Santo Tomas, 45-44, in the girls’ team saber finals and completed a six-gold sweep with a 45-30 win over UST in the girls’ team epee finals.
In the boys’ division, MVP Shawn Felipe powered UE to a 45-9 dismantling of UST also in the team foil finals to cap a scintillating five-gold romp./PN
