Lunging Forward: UAAP Men’s Fencing Recap Day 1
UAAP SEASON 77
Finding a new home at the UP College of Human Kinetics Gym, the UAAP Fencing Championship took off without a hitch. All schools showed great power and determination as their fencers once again took hold of their swords to fight for the pride of their respective universities.
Battling to the end: Individual Epee
Starting the day with an impressive display spirited lunges and lighting-like stabs, the men’s epee tournament highlighted the skills and talents of the rosters and showed just a glimpse of what was to come.
Fielding two fencers for the tournament, three schools rose above the rest as they quickly dominated their division. The three schools being none other than DLSU, UE, and UST who were quick to dispatch the fencers of ADMU (Michael Tan) and UP (Juan Concepcion and Armstrong Tibay). Rough patches, however, cut down the numbers of DLSU and UE as their UST counterparts were also quick to take them out. DLSU’s Rodriguez fell to UST’s Joselito Jose, 15-11, and UE’s Erigna was routed by UST’s Bernindino Aribas.
The damage done by a resurgent UST team hungry to play a part in the regaining of their lost UAAP general championship, however, did not go unnoticed by DLSU’s lone combatant Raymond Orozco and UE’s final fencer Nathaniel Perez as both were quick to switch to offense. Sadly for UE, only Orozco succeeded as he was able to fell UST’s Aribas. This however did not equate to another victory as he ultimately lost to UST’s Jose who took home the gold.
Raymund Orozco, Joselito Jose, Bernardino Aribas, and Nathaniel Perez
Besides the gold won by Jose, Aribas also took home the bronze which he shared with UE’s Perez while green and white Fencer Orozco took home the silver.
Reversed Outcome: Individual Sabre
While the first matches were filled with their own share of heartbreaks and surprises for the less fortunate teams, the men’s sabre which took place in the afternoon held a surprising twist to finally cap off the day.
Creating an intimidating lead early were none other than UST and UE, who were both initially in the position to duel once again in a repeat of the day’s earlier matches. Fate, however, had a different plan as FEU’s Andrew Raymundo and UP’s Juan Ferrer quickly ate out the lead carved by both UE and UST to deny both powerhouses the chance to compete for the gold.
Overcoming the powerhouses, both Ferrer and Raymundo engaged in a duel that could be described as the day’s highlight. Likened to the duels of the old medieval ages, both Ferrer and Raymundo gave it their best to secure the gold for their team.
Fighting like each point was the difference between life and death, both sides tried and succeeded in denying their opposition even the tiniest headway. Switching blows and lunges, it seemed UP had more to give as Ferrer finally ended the day’s tensest match with a quick counterattack to end at 15-14. The truly emotional win for UP, however, served a purpose far greater than school pride as it also acted as a tribute to UP’s Allan Salupado, who was slated to compete but sadly lost his life before the UAAP Fencing Championship.
Sabre Champion: Juan Paolo Ferrer-UP
Joining Ferrer on the podium were Raymundo who grabbed the silver along with UE’s Bruce Ng and UST’s Angelo Ramos who both shared the bronze.
Published December 6, 2014
By Kim Leong
ATTACK. ONE LIGHT. GREEN … for FERRER. GOLD FOR UP.
uaap season 77
#UPMaroons2014InReview
04 December 2014
Emerging victorious after all the struggles is always been one of the best things that can happen in life. And what better way to define a true FIGHTING MAROON than what the men’s fencing team showed throughout the tournament, which happened in the very same place they experience such tragedies and hardships — our own UP Gym.
In the middle of the year, while in the middle of preparing and training for the then upcoming UAAP, the team lost sophomore Allen Salupado to death. It was such an emotional day for the team as they lost not just a teammate but a good friend, a brother/sister. They have to, however, move on, and do all this in his memory and to make it all count.
It does not end there, however, as ace sabreur Juan Paulo Ferrer suffered a heart ailment, apparently, due to overexertion in training. He was rushed into the Infirmary and was advised to avoid physical activity. This cannot be happening as the it was just two weeks into the tournament. He was, however, cleared but was under medication.
What happened come competition time, was nothing short of a miracle for the team. Rookie Armstrong Tibay started strong for the team as he was able to place a decent 6th place. Kit Irving Base, perhaps buoyed by his close friend’s Allen’s untimely demise, also performed well and finished 7th. But was Ferrer’s run that made it all well.
Still the team’s best hope, Jolo made sure he will not disappoint his teammates and his supporters. He then made to work against his opponents Alvin Almonte of UE and then his rival, reigning champions Bruce Ng, also of UE. Two down and one to go. Andrew Raymundo of FEU was the last man standing on his way. Ferrer went on to string up a couple of points and be comfortably in the lead despite having to take his meds during the break. Raymundo fought back and knotted the bout at 14-all. One touche away from agony. But also one touche away from victory.
ATTACK. ONE LIGHT. GREEN … for FERRER. GOLD FOR UP.
And the crowd erupted in celebration.
It was just the start, however.
When heroes rise and fail after, new heroes are called to pick up from he left off.
uaap season 77
#UPMaroons2014InReview
07 December 2014
When heroes rise and fail after, new heroes are called to pick up from he left off. As the men’s sabre team led by Ferrer, settled for the bronze the day before, it was the turn of the most consistent ensemble of fencers UP have to continue fighting for at most the runner-up trophy.
Led by last season’s silver medallist Juan Carlo Turano, the men’s foil team with him and captain Albrecht Arthur Arevalo, individual bronze medalist and newcomer Rafael Alfonso Rondain, and the ever-upstart Augustine John Cui, made sure they won’t settle for less this time. Branded as one of the (if not the) strongest UP men’s foil team assembled, they made short work of the La Salle team despite the latter’s run. And now they have the chance claim gold and a runner-up finish for the Fighting Maroons.
They will face, however, a strong UE side. And strong indeed. UE lead big and pulled away in the middle part of the match and then fielded in Almonte (yes,the same person from previous post) against Apa Rondain. Rondain made every second of the bout count as he continued to pummel Almonte with attacks until the lead suddenly went down to about four. That lead was almost 15 a while ago.
It was then the turn of JC Turano and the one who defeated the previous season, former MVP Nathaniel Perez. Turano scored on the first attack but that’s all he could manage as Perez made sure he’ll have the revenge.
It was, however, enough for UP to improve to silver in this event and improve to third place overall for the UAAP.
A strong start for rookie fencer Armstrong Tibay
UAAP SEASON 77
IN his first lunge as a fencer in the UAAP, Armstrong H.Tibay proved that he belongs among the promising elite athletes in the collegiate level.A newcomer in the field, Tibay has shown his potential and skills as a varsity player and went on to win a bronze medal for his school, the University of the Philippines as a member of the men’s fencing team, a feat that is something to be proud of. Tibay shared the bronze medal with his teammates Jag Concepcion, Alexis Alfonso and Brian Tamase.
But for Tibay, the win validated his decision to go into fencing instead of pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a basketball players.“I realized that basketball can not give me an opportunity to excel so I tried the sport of fencing and I started to feel that I belong here because i always end at the podium in every competition I am in,” said the young fencing sensation.
Tibay said his short-term goal it to make it as a member of the national fencing team in the near future. “I will now concentrate and stick as a fencer so someday I can contribute honor and prestige for our country -my utmost ambition even before my secondary school days in Claret in Quezon City.”
It was his father, Art Tibay, who happens to be the General Manager/CEO of Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City—who is also a basketball and fencing enthusiast, who encouraged and motivated the young Tibay to play the sport that was once played by no less than our national hero, Jose Rizal and revolutionaries Antonio Luna, Gregorio del Pilar and Emilio Aguinaldo, among others.
“I’m throwing my all out support to my son’s newfound sports until the time he achieves his personal ambition and for the country as well,” the elder Tibay said.
Team UP epee team captured the bronze medal after outplaying Ateneo in the battle for 3rd in the UAAP event eventually dominated by powerhouse University of the East whose players are also current national fencers.
Outside the UAAP, the young Tibay also won a bronze medal in the recent Gladiator’s Cup Open in the Ultra Fencing Center in his favorite foil in individual event.With his recent victories, Armstrong is now fully armed with a strong will that his recent achievements will catapult him into greater heights.
December 07, 2014 at 12:01 am
Danny Simon
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES FENCING TEAM ARCHIVE 
