The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Fencers secured five podium finishes in six events on the first day of the UAAP Season 87 fencing tournament, on Tuesday, April 22, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum.

National team standout Ysah Catantan reclaimed the women's individual foil crown, clinching her second title overall.

Catantan dominated Ateneo’s Bea Ursolino, 15-0, and toppled reigning MVP Queenie Dalmacio of UE, 15-8, en route to the final.

She capped her run with a commanding 15-3 win over UP’s Nana Carbonell to secure UST’s first gold of the season.

UST’s reigning back-to-back sabre champion Eunice Villanueva fell short of a gold medal finish in a dramatic 14-15 loss against De La Salle’s Christian Buenaventura.

Villanueva mustered a fightback to tie the match 14-all; however, Buenaventura delivered a clutch counter to seal the upset.

Lady Bathan and Marian Castro missed out on a medal finish in the girls’ foil.

Kieth Bernal claimed bronze in the men’s épée during the afternoon session, while John Malinao and Eihlrach Sendico rounded out the podium in the boys’ épée and sabre events, respectively.

Patricia Daradar placed fifth in the women’s foil, while Antonio Baydid took seventh in boys’ sabre.

Adam Putian and Larco Cortez both settled for eighth in men’s épée and sabre, respectively.

The UST Tiger Fencers will chase more glory in the individual events on Wednesday, April 23, at the same venue.