University of the East reigned supreme in the men’s division for the eighth straight year while its women’s squad regained the throne Friday in the UAAP Season 82 Collegiate Fencing Tournament at the Paco Arena.
The Red Warriors bested Ateneo, 45-42, in the men’s team foil finals to complete a five-gold, one-silver medal haul for their 14th title overall.
Sammuel Tranquilan exited UE as a winner, capturing his third straight MVP award.
Players come and go but UE’s fencing program is worthy to be copied as it also completed a golden double in high school division.
The Junior Warriors gave Samantha Catantan a fitting send-off by winning a ninth consecutive girls crown, while their boys’ team achieved a 10-peat.
Behind Catantan’s heroics, UE rallied past University of Santo Tomas, 45-44, in the girls’ team saber final and completed a six-gold sweep with a 45-30 win over UST in the girls’ team epee final.
An Asian U23 gold medalist who will play for US NCAA Division I’s Penn State in college, Catantan emerged as the MVP once more, leaving a lasting legacy for the Junior Warriors’ program.
“Sobrang layo na ng narating na ni Sam,” said UE coach Amatov Canlas. “From UE, to UAAP, tapos nadiscover siya sa US, pupunta sa magandang school. Hindi lang Penn State ang nag-recruit sa kanya. Maraming school. Pero ang sabi ko sa kanya mas maganda sa Penn State, gagaling at tataas ang level mo.
A good example is Rookie-MVP winner Queendenise Dalmacio, who led the Lady Warriors in collecting four golds, one silver, and three bronze medals to claim a league-best 13th crown.
“Actually, magkaka-batch iyan. Sina Queen at Sam (Catantan). Sabay-sabay iyan noong time na ni-recruit ko sila noong mga bata pa talaga ang mga iyan,” said Canlas, who also handled the national team that won two gold medals in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
“Hindi ko nga inaasahan na magiging Rookie-MVP siya. Deserved naman niya talaga iyan,” said Canlas.
UE topped De La Salle, 45-36, in the women’s team epee Finals and returned in the afternoon with a 45-19 conquest of University of Santo Tomas in the women’s team saber gold medal match.
The Blue Eagles finished second in the men’s side with a 1-3-2 haul, while the Green Archers had a 0-1-5 tally in third place.
De La Salle took the runner-up honors with 1-2-1, while last season’s champion Ateneo settled for third with 1-1-2.
