UNIVERSITY of the Philippines’ Juliana Gomez successfully defended her women’s epee individual gold after a come-from-behind 15-14 win over La Salle’s Cyrra Vergara in the UAAP fencing tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Playing catch-up most of the time, Gomez was cool and calculated, as the daughter of actor-sportsman-politician Richard displayed tremendous composure to prevail in the final.

“I have so much faith that I’ll gonna win. It didn’t really fazed me. Nothing. I just kept thinking that as long as the opponent doesn’t reached 15, I still have a chance of me winning. It is just the faith,” said Gomez.

“I’m really happy. I feel really blessed because I really prayed for this moment. None of my bouts were easy but I took it one step at a time and I just stayed at the present. But I think, that led me to the goal today,” she added.

Ruling the epee event for the second straight season, Gomez was determined to prove something.

“I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder. I don’t know but I just refused to believe that I was lucky last year. I want to do it again,” said Gomez, who will also compete in the women’s epee event tomorrow.

It was the Fighting Maroons’ second gold of the tournament, adding Nana Carbonell’s triumph in the women’s foil Thursday.

Defending champion University of the East has won its first gold as reigning MVP Queen Dalmacio bested University of Santo Tomas’ Alyssah Catantan, 15-7, in the women’s saber final.

Unlike last year where Catantan provided a tough stand, Dalmacio was dominating.

In the men’s division, the 11-peat seeking Red Warriors also earned their first gold as Shawn Felipe defeated Robert Cabaero, 15-8, in an all-UE foil individual final.

UST’s Eunice Villanueva on Thursday clinched his second straight sabre individual gold, while La Salle’s Edan Ensamtan ruled the epee individual event.

The Red Warriors, who now have two silvers, took the lead heading to today’s team events.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado