UAAP: UE aims for historic fourth straight fencing sweep

The University of the East Fencing team during their UAAP Season 86 fencing championship campaign. File photo/UAAP.MANILA — University of the East looks to extend its dominance in the sport as it aims for a fourth consecutive quadruple championship when the UAAP Season 87 Fencing Championships opens Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila.

The Red Warriors are gunning for their 13th straight title in the Boys’ division — currently the longest active championship streak in the league. The Men's and Girls’ squads will each aim for an 11th consecutive crown, while the Women’s team is eyeing a four-peat.

Reigning MVP Nicollei Felipe will lead the charge for UE’s Men's squad, which remains the heavy favorite in the epee and foil events. Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas will rely on back-to-back individual sabre champion Eunice Villanueva to make her mark once again.

University of the Philippines remains a strong contender, particularly in the epee category, bolstered by the anticipated debut of UAAP Season 82 Rookie of the Year and national team standout Miggy Bautista in maroon colors.

Four-time MVP Queenie Dalmacio will spearhead UE’s Women’s squad for the final time, as she sets her sights on a fourth individual sabre gold. At the same time, Nana Carbonell is expected to step up and fill the gap left by Juliana Gomez’s departure, taking on a leadership role for UP.

UST is also expected to make a strong push for podium finishes, with Jannah Catantan eyeing redemption in the individual foil after yielding the gold to Carbonell last season.

De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University are also hoping to make a splash and pull off some surprises during the tournament.

In the Juniors division, UAAP Season 85 MVP James Lim and UAAP Season 86 MVP Opao Catantan will once again suit up for the Junior Warriors, defending the Boys' and Girls' titles, respectively.

The competition kicks off today with individual events in Boys’ Epee, Men’s Sabre, and Women’s Foil in the morning session. The afternoon will feature Girls’ Foil, Boys’ Sabre, and Men’s Epee.

On Wednesday, the action continues with Boys’ Foil, Girls’ Sabre, and Women’s Epee, concluding with Women’s Sabre, Men’s Foil, and Girls’ Epee to wrap up the individual events.

The same schedule will be repeated over the following two days, this time for the team events.