PHL Fencing Team, tutuhugin ang ginto sa 30th SEA Games

Susubukang muling matuhog ng National Fencing team ang overall title sa 30th edisyon ng Southeast Asian Games sa bansa simula Nob. 30-Dis 11 ngayong taon.

Tangan ang pag-asang muling makamit ang titulo na huling nagawa noon pang 2005 Philippine meet – kung saan nakuha nito ang limang gold, 2 silver at anim na bronze medal – tatangkain ng national fencers na matusok ang tatlo sa apat na gintong medalya na nakatakdang magbukas sa Disyembre 3-8 sa World Trade Center sa Pasay City.

“Our goal is to get that three to four gold medals,” wika ni head coach Rolando Canlas Jr. na naging parte rin ng 2005 meet kung saan nagwagi ito ng gold medal sa men’s team foil kasama sina Emerson Segui, Ramil Endriano at Mark Denver Atienza.

“As much as possible, we want our players to win medals, whatever it is, even it is silver or bronze,” dagdag nito.

Gaya ng 2005 SEA Games campaign, mayroong 12 pag-aagawang gold medal ang iba’t ibang fencers mula sa siyam na bansang kalahok para sa men’s and women’s individual at team events sa foil, epee at sabre.

Ngunit sa mga nagdaang biennial meet matapos ang overall championship noong 2005 ay nakakolekta lang ng 5 golds 13 silvers at 14 bronze medals ang bansa.

Walang fencing event noon sa 2009 Laos Games at 2013 Myanmar meet.

“They really improved a lot. The confidence level is very high. I’m confident that they can deliver,” pahayag ni Canlas sa kanilang 24-member national team.

Pipiliting malampasan ng pambansang koponan ang 1 gold, 3 silver at two bronze performance nito sa nakalipas na 2017 Malaysian Games na tutulong-tulungang kunin nina top fencers men’s foil silver medalist Nathaniel Perez, women’s foil bronze medal winner Maxine Isabel Esteban, Noelito Jose Jr., CJ Concepcion, Nicole Cortey at reigning Asian Under-23 champion Samantha Catantan.