Filipino fencers close campaign with team bronze

BEKASI, West Java – Filipino fencers closed out their stint with a bronze medal in men’s team sabre event in the 26th Southeast Asian Games fencing competitions at the University of Indonesia multi-purpose hall in Depok Friday.

Although seeded in the semifinal round, the Filipino quartet spearheaded by men’s individual sabre champion Wally Mendoza led only briefly in the early stages before being ambushed by an inspired Malaysian squad, 33-45.

Shut out in the medal hunt were the women’s foil squad of Dinah Remolacio, Mia Howell and Veena Nuestro as it absorbed a close 41-44 decision to Singapore in the quarterfinals.

The Malaysians had a huge lead at once,” said Mendoza, who carried the Filipinos to a 5-4 lead before teammates Giancarlo Nocom, Edwin Velez and Eric Brando III yielded to their respective rivals.

The nationals were down 31-40 by the time it Mendoza’s turn to see action again and his opponent Yu Peng Kean didn’t give him any room to mount a comeback as the Malaysian scored three straight points en route to the win.

“Our outcome in fencing reflect lack of preparation and foreign exposure compared to our rivals,” noted coach Orly Vizcayno, whose charges only had a two-week training stint in China compared to the extensive preparations in Europe of the other foreign squads like Malaysia and Thailand.

 Topping it all, the Pinoy bets hardly had time to adjust to their equipment as they got it on the same day they departed for Indonesia last Nov. 10.

A decent performer in past SEA Games, the Philippines ended up with its worst finish in the regional sports showcase with one gold courtesy of Mendoza and a bronze medal each in the women’s team sabre and team epee events.

This was a far cry from the 3-6-6 gold-silver-medal tally of the Filipinos in the 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games when fencing was last played in the Games.