Lozada solidifies Philippine Team comeback

Wilhelmina “Bing” Lozada continued with her impressive run as she again topped the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) Open category to keep her position at No. 1 in the national ranking last Saturday at the Fencing Hall of the PhilSports Complex (formerly ULTRA) in Pasig City.

Wilhelmina “Bing” Lozada CONTRIBUTED PHOTO 

The 27-year-old Lozada dispatched in the finals current national team member Maricar Matienzo with a masterful 15-7 victory to remain as the top women’s foil fencer in the PFA ranking for national team in 2024.

It was a sweet victory for Lozada, who represents Canlas Fencing, following a close and come-from-behind 15-14 triumph over Matienzo during their finals duel in the second leg of the PFA Opens a few months back.

She also ruled the first leg of the Opens last January with a thrilling 15-14 win against former Philippine Team member Maxine Esteban, now a naturalized player for Ivory Coast.

Lozada, who has earned silver and three bronze medals in team events with the Nationals in three different Southeast Asian Games, said that regaining a spot in the national team is her motivation.

“That’s what keeps me going, that’s my goal by the end of the year,” added Lozada, who missed by just a couple of points on joining the Philippines in the 2023 SEAG in Cambodia that ended 10-year stint with the national team from 2013 to 2022.

“Hopefully, with two more legs to play, I can still continue with this kind of performance. It’s important that I continue training, and at the same time help our young fencers improve on their game,” added Lozada, who is now one of the CF coaches under former national team mentor Amat Canlas.

As the sixth seeded fencer entering the Direct Elimination, Lozada downed Ruby Kate Sardenia 15-2 in the round of 32, edged Marina Carbonell in the round of 16 with a a score 15-11, clobbered national team member Justine Tinio 15-1 in the table-of-8, and defeated Janna Catantan – also a member of the Philippine Team – 15-12 in the semifinals.

Catantan won against Filipino-American Sloane Paulus to finish third in the third leg of the Opens.

Meanwhile, Noelito Jose also kept his status as the No. 1 fencer in men’s epee following a 15-13 win against Miguel Bautista in the finals. Lorenzo Malvar of University of the Philippines finished third after he won against Aurell Obzunar of University of the East.

In women’s saber, Nicole Cortey stunned 2019 SEA Games gold medalist Jylyn Nicanor with a 15-13 win in the final round. Queen Dalmacio, the reigning UAAP champion, placed third after beating Meagan Co Say of Republic Fencing.

The Open category action continued Sunday with competitions in men’s foil, women’s epee and men’s saber.