The name Catantan is fast becoming a household name in Philippine fencing history.
National team member Janna Catantan and her younger sister Sophia made their presence felt in the recent 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Fencing Championships and it looks like they’re bound to scale greater heights in one of the oldest sports in the world.
The 19-year-old Janna emerged undefeated when she snatched the gold medal in women’s individual foil, and after turning back fellow national team member Maricar Matienzo of the University of the East, 15-9, in the finals.
Janna, a second-year Occupational Therapy student at the University of Santo Tomas, swept all her seven matches in claiming her first-ever gold medal since she began competing in high school.
“It was very satisfying, I’m very happy to finally win a gold medal in the UAAP – a dream come true,” said Janna, who is set to follow the footsteps of her eldest sister Samantha, who is a five-time MVP in UAAP high school.
Samantha is currently a student-athlete for Penn State University and sees action in the US NCAA Division 1.
Their younger sister, 13-year-old Sophia Shekinah and a Grade 7 student edged Aubrey Paulene Fernandez, 15-7, in an all-University of the East girls’ foil finals.
Catantan and Matienzo, along with Samantha Catantan and Justine Gale Tinio are set to compete in Cambodia meet.
A 15-4 triumph over Matienzo set Janna for a four-game sweep of the Pool 1 action before she won over UST’s Christine Escleto, 15-3, in the quarterfinals and Nami Noro of the University of the Philippines, 15-9, in the semifinals.
This made Janna a prime candidate to claim the Rookie of the Year award, which her eldest sister Samantha claimed in 2014.