MANILA, Philippines — Southeast Asian Games-bound Philippine National Fencing Team pocketed three gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals at the 2019 Taipei Fencing Open in Taipei, Taiwan.

Kyle Catantan saved the best for last as she led Team Philippines to its 2 gold, and 1 bronze medal haul in the final day of 2019 Taipei Fencing Open in Taipei, Taiwan.

Catantan dominated the Women’s Foil event in the final day of the tournament, after defeating Wu Ruozhen of Olin Fencing, 15-12 in the finals. She earlier beat Cheng Wei of Fu Jen Catholic University, 15-12 in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Eunice Daniel Villanueva bag the country’s third gold medal in the Men’s Sabre event. Villanueva defeated Zhou Zongxi from National Taiwan Sport University, 15-14 in the finals. SEA Games bet Christian Jhester Concepcion went home with a bronze medal.

In the earlier matches, the 2018 Southeast Asian Fencing Championships silver medalist Noelito Jose, Jr. snatched the gold medal in the Men’s Epee event after defeating Xu Weiwei of Taoyuan City, 15-5 in the Finals.

On his way to the finals, Jose beat Zhongzheng High School fencers Ding Wei, 15-7 in the quarterfinals and Chen Zonglin, 13-12 come the semifinals.

The tournament serves as a crucial test for the Pinoy fencers before they will head back to the country to compete in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games from December 3-8 at the World Trade Center Halls B & C in Pasay City. (Lloyd Tagnago/IAMIGO/CNS)