Picture: The team, from left: Anica Catarina Abaquin, Maricar Matienzo, head coach Rolando Canlas, Samantha Kyle Catantan, and Maxine Isabel Esteban
DUBAI: After winning against Australia in the elimination round with 37-31, the Philippine (PH) women’s fencing team had a hard and tensed fight with Hong Kong (HKG) as the opponent took the lead by six points in the third round, 15-9.
In the next couple of rounds, assertive Hong Kong fencers seemed to be unstoppable, ending the fifth with a soaring 24 points and leaving PH squad with 17.
However, their luck seemed shortlived, as it started to flicker when the Philippine fencers scored five points in the 6th round, giving them heebie-jeebies in the game. Round after round, Hong Kong’s leads became less and less as the Philippine team overtook the scene – 7th round ended with 29-26.
The crowd went wild and cheers got louder as the determined PH fencers continuously shone their spirits bright in the last two rounds of the match. Hong Kong tried to remain in the top spot but the Philippines knew better. PH has sensed the opponents fear as HKG lost focus and collapsed in the last round. The blinding moves and swift attacks of the PH penetrated the contender’s weakened defense.
Feeble attempts by Hong Kong to reclaim their post seemed to have been no match for PH’s strong-willed and composed fencers. No time wasted, PH cleverly fought solid in the 3-minute ninth round, which scored them with an incredible 11 points, and left Hongkong with just 2. It was sweet victory for the Philippines finishing off the game with a 4-point lead, 38-34. Indeed, a game well fought by the PH junior women’s foil team – Anica Catarina Abaquin, Samantha Kyle Catantan, Maxine Isabel Esteban, Maricar Matienzo.
Head coach, Canlas said about their win “It was a really good tough match but I always tell them that they can do it and that I believe that they can win this fight as long as they stay focus and alert. I am very proud of the team’s achievement and their progress for they worked hard for it.”
– By Abi Bokingo
