Samantha Kyle Catantan will once again lead the country’s fencing campaign in the coming 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Catantan has been assured of her spot in the national squad after she ruled a women’s individual foil event the last time around in Vietnam.
Also sure of making it to the national fencing team are Nathaniel Perez and Noelito Jose Jr. after both earned silver medlas in their respective events in the men’s individual foil and epee.
The 20-year-old Catantan is currently preparing for the coming US NCAA season at the Pennsylvania State University, where she is one of its top fencers. She is now ranked no. 89 in the world.
Perez has made his mark and returned to the national squad following his participation in the recent Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
While in Malaysia, the Philippines scooped up eight golds, seven silvers and 11 bronze medals to finish behind Vietnam in the medal standings.
Jose went home with a gold medal in the men’s individual epee and a bronze for the Philippines in the team epee of the Malaysian tourney.
The full roster of the national squad in still under review, according to new national coach Ramil Endriano.
Endriano came aboard as head coach of the national team in August last year following the resignation of Amatov Canlas.
Endriano’s his elder brother Rufelrino will be an assistant coach, joining the coaching staff composed of Arman Bernal and Almario Viscayno (epee), Eric Brando and Edward Daliva (sabre) and Veena Nuestro (foil).
In Vietnam, the Philippines finished with one gold, three silver and four bronze medals.
The Philippine women’s foil team (Wilhelmina Lozada, Justine Gail Tinio and Catantan), which bagged a silver medal, is also a shoo-in.
Also expected to make it to men’s foil team are (Sammuel Tranquilan, Michael Nicanor, Prince John Francis Felipe Santos and Perez), women’s team epee (Justine Gail Tinio, Anna Gabriella Guinto, Ivy Claire Dinoy and Lozada), men’s team sabre (Sandro Antonio Sia, Eunice Daniel Villanueva, John Paul Dayro and Christian Jhester Concepcion) and women’s team sabre (Queen Denise Dalmacio, Allaine Nicole Cortey and Kemberly Camahalan).