Makati: University of the East pocketed two more gold medals Monday night to rule the women's division in the UAAP Season 88 fencing tournament at the Makati Coliseum. UE defeated De La Salle University, 44-40, in the team epee final, and University of Santo Tomas, 46-42, in the team sabre final.
According to Philippines News Agency, UE's Queenie Dalmacio expressed mixed emotions about the victory, sharing her happiness about reclaiming the championship and sadness as it marks her final participation. Dalmacio hopes her teammates will continue striving to retain the championship in future seasons. Despite UE settling for second place in the girls' division, Dalmacio encouraged her teammates to persist and reclaim the title.
Lia Gillana played a crucial role in powering UST to a 45-39 victory in the sabre team final over UE, led by MVP Opao Cantantan. Gillana expressed her overwhelming feelings of accomplishment, acknowledging the hard work and hectic schedule she maintained to achieve the success.
The victory was a historic moment for UST, marking their first-ever title in the tournament. Gillana shared the team's disbelief and excitement, stating that the achievement still felt unreal despite having the trophy in hand.
University of the East had previously claimed gold medals in the foil events, showcasing their dominance in the men's and boys' divisions. The team's success served as a tribute to program head Amat Canlas in his final season with UE. Canlas emphasized the importance of maintaining the dynasty they have built, highlighting the deep roots and legacy of UE's fencing program.
In other results, UP finished as runner-up in the women's division with three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, while UST and La Salle secured third and fourth places respectively. In the men's division, La Salle finished second, followed by UP. UE ranked second in the girls' division, while Ateneo made its first podium appearance with one silver and four bronzes. PAREF Southridge achieved a runner-up finish in the boys' division, with De La Salle Zobel following closely.
