UE fencers shine in Oblation fencing

MANILA, Philippines – University of the East fencers Willa Liana Galvez and Abi France Pangilinan delivered contrasting wins as they pocketed the gold medals in their respective categories; while Lily Juico won her first epee title during the Oblation Fencing Cup over the weekend in Quezon City. 

Galvez, an incoming Grade 8 for the Red Warriors who made her UAAP debut in Season 86 last March, won the gold medal in Under-12 girl’s foil division following a thrilling 10-8 win over Christine Morales of Canlas Fencing. The latter blew an 8-7 lead as the aggressive Galvez scored three straight points.

It was the last competition for Galvez in the U-12, as she will turn 13 on July 16 — the reason why she let out a scream in celebration of her win in the finals, which came after a thrilling 7-5 victory in the semifinal round against Yuna Canlas, an incoming rookie for the Red Warriors.

“I’m just happy to win my last U-12 competition. My last two tournaments in U-12 ended in defeats in the finals and semifinals — both times I thought it was my last. I was given another chance, which is probably my last in U-12, so I gave it my all. A good farewell at U-12,” said Galvez.
 
Canlas and Jonie Ching settled with the bronze medals.

Backed by Strong Group Athletics, San Miguel, Nickel Asia Corporation, Rain or Shine, Pocari Sweat PH, Eastern Communications, Kick-Start Coffee, NLEX, Smart Communications, and the MVP Sports Foundation, Galvez and Canlas are set to join a training camp on July 13-18 in Taiwan; and a competition on July 20 to 22 in Thailand as they gear up for UAAP Season 87.

Pangilinan, on the other hand, won the gold medal in U-12 mixed epee as he edged Juico 10-5 in the finals. He and Canlas are both incoming Grade 7 student-athlete scholars at UE with Ryona Salvante (saber), while Don Geronimo (epee) and Bryan Siembra (sabre) are both entering Grade 10, and Eya Mendoza (foil) is a Grade 11 transferee. 

As the top finisher in girls, Juico — daughter of Quezon City District 1 councilor and QCSep Fencing Team founder Joseph Juico — got the gold medal. Galvez, who lost to Pangilinan in the semifinals, earned the silver medal, while Ching and Mary Guidote of