OLYMPIC aspirant Nathaniel Perez reaffirmed his supremacy in Philippine fencing, sweeping all his matches in the Men’s Foil during the Philippine Fencing Association Senior Ranking and SEA Games qualifying tournament held at the Gateway 2, Cubao, Quezon City.
Perez, who narrowly missed a slot in the Paris Olympics, dished out an unyielding form and skills as he triumphed over top competitors, including Daniel Canlas, James Lim, Louis Shoemaker, and teammate Sammuel Tranquilan, whom he defeated 15-8 in the finals.
In the Men’s Saber category, Christian Jester Concepcion also delivered an impressive unbeaten run, culminating in a 15-7 victory against Daniel Villanueva in the finals.
The Men’s Épée provided a thrilling twist as Filipino-American Sean Patrick Lauron secured the title with a nail-biting 15-14 upset of SEA Games silver medalist and top-seed Noelito Jose.
National team members dominated across events, winning all but one category.
In the Women’s Épée, Alexa Larrazabal edged Ashley Harrison 15-13 in the finals, while Juliana Gomez claimed the bronze after defeating Jennina Mendoza, 15-9.
Former SEA Games champion Jylyn Nicanor asserted her dominance in the Women’s Saber, defeating fellow national athlete Queen Dalmacio with a decisive 15-3 scoreline, as Krystal Tuy secured bronze.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Foil, Janna Catantan outlasted veteran Wilhelmina Lozada in a closely contested 15-12 final. Sophia Catantan, another rising star, took home the bronze.
The event saw an impressive turnout of 262 fencers, marking a significant step in the selection process for the Philippine team competing in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
The second leg of the five-part series takes place on March 15 and 16 at the Alabang Town Center, promising another exciting showcase of skill and determination.