Lady Fencers take bridesmaid finish
"WE COULD have done better," said captain VG Garcia (IV BS HSc) of the Lady Fencers' UAAP Season 70 campaign.
But after winning Loyola's lone title in Season 69, the Ateneo Lady Fencers were just as happy with the way they placed and finished this year.
The Ateneo Lady Fencers settled for a bridesmaid finish in the UAAP Season 70 Fencing tournament held last February 9 and 10 at the Blue Eagle Gym. They racked up two gold medals and two silver medals in the competition.
Sisters VG and Faye Garcia (II BS Psy) lorded over the individual foil category, winning the silver and gold medal, respectively. By the end of day one, the Blue-and-White already had a win-win as the event finals featured a showdown between the Garcia sisters, where Faye edged out her older sister.
"We've been training hard for this," said Faye Garcia. "But I'm happy that I'm the one who won the gold this time, because she was the one who got it last year."
"It's okay because I didn't want to lose to any other person other than my sister," added VG Garcia.
The Garcias, Mars Sacdalan (III BS LM) and Rafaela Santiago (I BS LM) also ruled the team foil event, capturing the gold.
"Gold [is] more than good," said Sacdalan. "Well, it's expected with VG and Faye on the team. And good thing I was able to contribute."
Joanna Ang (IV BS CTM), Stephanie Payoyo (III AB Comm), Danica Dacay (III BS CTM) and Mikki Reyes (II AB Psy) won the silver medal in the epee team category, bowing out in the finals against the University of the East.
"It gives me a great sense of accomplishment that we put up a good fight," said Reyes. "Next year, gold."However, the rise of the Lady Fencers to the UAAP elite will be challenged next year as some players will be graduating, including team captain and former MVP VG Garcia.
"The team next year has to train harder, especially for the new members, it'll be a bigger challenge for them," said VG Garcia. "[But] I'm just proud of what the team has accomplished the past years."Blue Fencers drop to fifth
The Ateneo Blue Fencers, after placing a historic third last season, finished fifth this time around in a six-team field, earning two bronze medals in the tiff.
Skipper EC Orlina (IV AB PoS) won the bronze medal in the individual epee event and, along with Adrienne Nera (II BS LM), Gab Raagas (I BSM AMF) and Scott Siy (I BS Mgt) also placed third in the team event.
"You can't really blame anyone, because almost everyone's new," said Orlina.
Orlina mostly carried his team in the tournament as he participated in four out of six events.
His 28-point performance in the men's team epee category against Far Eastern University was his highest point total in his career. In achieving it, he also single-handedly rallied his team to taking a spot in the top two. However, Ateneo lost by a point, 45-44, in the end game and settled for third in the event.
Like VG Garcia, Orlina will also be graduating this year.
"As long as they keep with them whatever they picked up in this tournament, I think that would really help them in the future," he said.
UE emerged as the overall women's champions while University of Santo Tomas prevailed in the men's tournament.