By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Marina Carbonell of University of the Philippines delivered the first gold medal in the UAAP Season 88 fencing tournament after beating teammate Mariel Flores, 15-5, in the women’s individual foil final Friday at the Makati Coliseum.
Carbonell clobbered University of Santo Tomas’ Ruby Kate Sardenia (15-5) in the quarterfinals and University of the East rookie Alyzabeth Gilbert (15-5) in the semis.
Reigning individual champion and MVP Allysah Catantan sat out the season to focus on her licensure examinations, adding more pressure on Carbonell.
“I’m more nervous because my biggest opponent other than her is myself. It seems like, hearing the pressure from other people, I feel it too; maybe I’ll disappoint them if I can’t perform well,” Carbonell, the Season 86 champion, said.
“I just focused on every point, and I just listened to my coaches. I just executed what we did in training,” the former member of the national training pool added.
In the men’s division, De La Salle University’s Kurt Maruquez downed UE’s Khiane Felipe, 15-8, to secure the sabre gold medal.
“I really prepared for this season, especially during my first two seasons with UST, I didn’t get a podium finish in the individuals. And this is my last season, so I really wanted to give it my all. No regrets; it was all worth it. It is something I will cherish,” Maruquez said.
Last year’s champion Christian Buenaventura of La Salle and Christian Anthony Concepcion of UE settled for the bronze medals.
Meanwhile, Enrico Fuentes of guest school PAREF Southridge School bagged the epee gold medal in the boys division following a 15-9 victory over UE’s Brynt Ember in the final.
“I was really happy that I got the first-ever gold for Southridge. It is my last year, and I’m glad to have ended it with a bang. I’m also happy that I had a great start, as I have set a standard for my teammates that they could also achieve great things,” Fuentes said.
Ateneo’s Samuel Gatmaytan and Gabriel Bunagan took the two bronze medals. (PNA)
