SOUTHEAST Asian Games medallist Wilhelmina Lozada showed that she is still in good shape when she dominated the women’s foil action of the 2023 Francisco Dayrit Cup Memorial Fencing Tournament at the Philsports Fencing Hall in Pasig City.
The 27-year-old Lozada, who has turned to coaching younger athletes since her last stint as a national athlete in the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games, prevailed over national team member Janna Catantan, 15-8.
“I didn’t have much preparation. But I still did well. I have been concentrating on coaching younger players this year,” said Lozada, who bagged a team bronze medal during her last stint with Team Philippines two years ago.
The Philippine Fencing Association held its fifth and final leg called the Francisco Dayrit Cup for the cadet and senior players, and is the ranking tournament for participating athletes.
Lozada, who handles young fencers at Club Canlas Fencing, reached the finals against Catantan after she breezed past Eytria Olarte, 15-6, in the semifinals, and Hannah Dominique Belarmino, 15-9.
National team members Eigran Ergina, Jylyn Nicanor, Hanniel Abella, Nathaniel Perez and Eunice Villanueva all breezed through their respective divisions with flying colors.
Ergina won over Lorenzo Miguel Malvar, 15-12, for the men’s epee gold, while Nicanor took the top honors in the women’s sabre after she beat national teammate Allain Cortey, 15-6.
Perez fashioned out a 15-10 stopping of Louis Shoemaker in taking the men’s foil honors, while Villanueva outplayed CJ Concepcion, 15-6, for the men’s saber crown.
He made it to the finals after Perez upset SEA Games individual silver medallist Sam Tranquillan, 15-6, in the semis, and Marcus Manuel, 15-3, in the quarterfinals.
The tournament will also evaluate the competitiveness of members of the national team.
