University of the Philippines bets Marina Carbonell (right) and Mariel Flores during the women’s individual foil final in the UAAP Season 88 fencing tournament at the Makati Coliseum on Friday (March 13, 2026). Carbonell won, 15-5. (UAAP photo)
Marina Carbonell rose to the moment and gave the University of the Philippines its first gold medal of the UAAP Season 88 fencing tournament after dominating teammate Mariel Flores, 15-5, in the women’s individual foil final on Friday at the Makati Coliseum.
With reigning individual champion and MVP Allysah Catantan sitting out the season to focus on her licensure examinations, Carbonell carried the added weight of expectations and responded with a commanding performance from start to finish.
The former national training pool member looked in complete control throughout her campaign, overwhelming University of Santo Tomas’ Ruby Kate Sardenia, 15-5, in the quarterfinals before dispatching University of the East rookie Alyzabeth Gilbert by the same score in the semifinals.
That set up an all-UP gold medal duel, where Carbonell once again delivered in emphatic fashion.
“I’m more nervous because my biggest opponent other than her is myself. It seems like, hearing the pressure from other people, I feel it too; maybe I’ll disappoint them if I can’t perform well,” said Carbonell, the Season 86 champion.
“I just focused on every point, and I just listened to my coaches. I just executed what we did in training,” she added.
In the men’s division, De La Salle University’s Kurt Maruquez captured the sabre gold medal after defeating UE’s Khiane Felipe, 15-8, capping a breakthrough finish in his final season.
Maruquez made the victory even sweeter after falling short of the podium during his first two seasons with UST, turning his last individual run into a career-defining moment.
“I really prepared for this season, especially during my first two seasons with UST, I didn’t get a podium finish in the individuals. And this is my last season, so I really wanted to give it my all. No regrets; it was all worth it. It is something I will cherish,” Maruquez said.
Last year’s champion Christian Buenaventura of La Salle and Christian Anthony Concepcion of UE settled for bronze.
In the boys’ division, guest school PAREF Southridge School also made history as Enrico Fuentes delivered the school’s first-ever gold medal after beating UE’s Brynt Ember, 15-9, in the epee final.
Fuentes said the milestone win was the perfect way to close out his final year while also setting the tone for the rest of the Southridge program.
“I was really happy that I got the first-ever gold for Southridge. It is my last year, and I’m glad to have ended it with a bang. I’m also happy that I had a great start, as I have set a standard for my teammates that they could also achieve great things,” Fuentes said.
Ateneo’s Samuel Gatmaytan and Gabriel Bunagan each went home with bronze medals.
With Carbonell delivering under pressure, Maruquez completing his redemption arc, and Fuentes carving out a historic breakthrough, the opening day of the UAAP Season 88 fencing tournament produced a strong mix of dominance, emotion, and milestone victories.
