Southeast Asian Games veteran Shawn Felipe frustrated US-trained foe Dean Myers, 15-8, to rule the junior men’s foil event of the Dr. Celso Dayrit Memorial Fencing Championships Sunday at the Ayala Malls by the Bay in Macapagal Ave., Pasay City.
The 19-year-old Felipe, who was part of the national squad that won the team bronze medal in the recent SEA Games, quickly earned points in the first round, and was never in trouble after taking a 12-4 edge with his attacks.
“My opponent trained well in the US. I just made sure about my movements so I did not hurry up. That’s why I was able to score early,” said Felipe, who will see action in the World Junior Cadets later this month in Thailand.
Felipe advanced to the finals after outpointing University of the East teammate Ygnatius Cabaero, 15-10, in the semifinals, and Ignatius Obnuzar,15-8, in the quarterfinals.
Earlier, Felipe’s elder brother Nash, 21, took home a gold medal in the cadet men’s saber, while his younger brother Kianne, 14, earned a silver in the junior men’s sabre.
Republic Fencing’s Jacob Mayo repulsed Lance Dy, 10-5, in the fight for the top honors in the under-12 boys epee, while Yuna Canlas of Canlas Fencing clinched the under-12 women’s foil crown in toppling UE’s Willa Liana Galvez, 10-7.
Maegan Co Say (Republic Fencing) prevailed over Adrienne Lising, 15-11, in taking the junior women’s epee honors, while University of Santo Tomas bet Janna Catantan downed younger sister Sophia Catantan, 15-10 for junior women’s foil gold.
University of the Philippines standout Lorenzo Malvar outplayed UE’s Aurell Obnuzar, 15-10, in the junior men’s epee action, and Krups Ednilag won over Mayumi Trinidad, 15-8, for the junior women’s epee gold.
Kurt Marquez of UST stopped Khiane Felipe, 15-10, to earn the junior men’s sabre plum.
Some 403 fencers took part in the two-day meet organized by the Philippine Fencing Association, in honor of former Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit.