DLSU Green and Lady Fencers face mixed results in season opener
The De La Salle University (DLSU) fencing team’s UAAP Season 86 season opener saw mixed results. The Green Fencers garnered one gold with a score of 1–0–0, while the Lady Fencers struggled to make it onto the winning column with a record of 0–0–0 on Thursday, March 14, at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavillion (QPav).
The lone gold medalist from DLSU was Edan Ensamtan, who bested the University of the East (UE) Red Warrior, Aurell Obzunar, with a score of 15–8 in the gold medal match.
Women’s Foil Individual
The first representative from the Green and White to set foot on the strip was the Lady Fencers’ team captain, Cyrra Vergara. Unfortunately, first blood was drawn against Vergara as she suffered a 3–5 loss against Ateneo’s Yelena Martinez. Luck continued to swing away from her as she struggled with a 2–5 result with eventual gold medalist Janna Catantan from UST, followed by a 1–5 blow from UE’s Queen Dalmacio. Vergara’s last match ended in a 0–5 shutout, with bronze medalist and University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroon Marina Carbonell, leading to her elimination from the category.
The next Lady Fencer to take the strip was Rebekah Lim, who tallied one 5–4 victory in her second match against UST’s Sharlanne Gonzales. However, she settled for the 8th seed in the competition, after yielding to Ateneo’s Althea Sebastian at 2–5, 1–5 to UP’s Noro Nami, and 2–5 to UE’s Eytria Olarte.
Men’s Sabre Individual
Green Fencers’ John Gajon and Christopher Buenaventura were both able to make it to the Top 8 qualifiers for their team. However, both fell short of making it to the semi-final round.
Gajon emerged victorious in his first match against UE’s Cabaero with a tally of 5–1 in his favor. This feat, unfortunately, would not be repeated as Gajon suffered consecutive losses against Ateneo’s Thomas Cabrera with a score of 4–5, 2–5 against the day’s gold medalist, Eunice Villanueva, and a final blow of 4–5 versus UP’s Xavier Reyes.
Buenaventura was able to clinch two out of four of his matches, with his first being a bounce-back performance from his 4–5 loss against UP’s John Dayro. He got the best of UST’s Kurt Maruquez with 5–4 on the scoreboard. Although he yielded to Ateneo’s Andre Agatep with a 2–5 final score, he ended his day on a high note with a 5–3 triumph above UE’s Shawn Felipe.
Men’s Epee Individual
Ken Panes began strong for the Epee category with two back-to-back victories against Obzunar and Ateneo’s Mico Florendo, scoring 5–1 and 5–4, respectively. However, UST’s Adam Putian got the best of him, scoring 3–5, and UP’s Timothy Gonzales, who handed him a 2–5 loss.
Ensamtan, on the other hand, was able to avenge his teammates with the second-best record in his category, with a record of 5–4, 5–4, 5–4, 4–5, eventually successfully facing Obzunar in the finals.
Catch the DLSU Green and Lady Fencers as they aim to showcase their underdog prowess tomorrow, March 15, at the same venue for Women’s Epee, Women’s Saber, and Men’s Foil.
