The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Fencers delivered a strong showing after hauling a total of seven medals on Day 2 of the UAAP Season 87 fencing tournament on Wednesday, April 23, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The Junior Tiger Fencers amassed a total of four medals, while their senior counterpart wrapped up the day with three medals.

Rookie Alexa Larrazabal led the charge in the seniors division, dominating University of the East’s Andrea Jennelle Matias with a 15-8 victory to seize her first UAAP gold medal in the women’s epee.

“I'm very, very happy and extremely overwhelmed [of my achievement]. [I went] into this game with no expectations at all because it was my first [playing year],” Larrazaval told TomasinoWeb.

“I [am hoping] for [the] team events this friday, I’ll be able to do good as well,” she added.

Ma. Estelliah Gillana delivered a clutch performance to secure another gold medal for the España-based squad after outdueling teammate Kathleen Gale Tuy, 15-14, in an all-UST final of the girls’ sabre event.

UST also picked up silver and bronze medals in the boys’ foil after Rayne Louie Maravilla settled for silver following his loss to UE’s James Lim, 7-15, in the final.

Angelo Aberilla also earned a bronze after losing to fellow Tiger Fencer Maravilla in a tightly contested semifinal matchup, 14-15.

Krystal Tuy earned a hard-fought silver in the women’s sabre finals, pushing UE’s Queen Denise Dalmacio to the limit, 11-15.

Her older sister, Kim Tuy, also reached the podium with a bronze medal, after falling to Dalmacio in the semifinals, 5-15.

“Sa performance nila, okay naman talaga… maganda naman yung nilaro ng mga bata. Kaya lang, syempre mas gusto natin ‘yung ginto,” UST sabre head coach Donnie Navarro told TomasinoWeb.

“Pinapakalma ko siya [Krystal] kasi medyo nawawala rin siya, pero normal naman sa laro yun kaya kailangan alam nung coach kung kailan nawawala ‘yung bata… [kailangan lang] masabi ko ‘yung play namin na gagawin,” he added.

The Tiger Fencers will hope to ride their momentum as the tournament heads into its third day of events on Thursday, April 24, in the same venue.