PHOTO COURTESY: YOSEM/Banner by Hanns Delfin
Karen Ann Mantukay
Bright future beckons Catantan, Esteban despite early Olympic exit
No amount of preparedness can muster the lionhearted when competing in an arena where the best and the most formidable in the world have gathered to display their exemplary skills and brilliance while aiming to seize the glorious prize in the world’s biggest sporting stage.
That is what the two Filipina fencers endured when they were unable to deflect the puncture of reality when they both bowed out in the Table of 32, ending their dream run in the Olympics.
Samantha Catantan and Maxine Esteban made history when they both qualified for the Summer Games as the Philippines’ first fencing representative since 1992 and the first homegrown Filipina to qualify for the Olympics, respectively.
With a rivalry to be settled in the Fencing events and an Olympic medal at stake, the odds of Catantan and Esteban facing off in the Olympic fencing stage is if they both reach the semifinals.
But the encounter was foiled at the Grand Palais where both fencers were ousted from the Paris Games in the early stages of the women’s individual foil competition.
Catantan steams ahead despite injury
After upstaging Brazil’s Mariana Pistoia, 15-13, in the Table of 64, the No. 266-ranked Catantan went toe-to-toe with the top-seeded fencer in a gallant bid to keep alive the Philippines’ first appearance in Olympic fencing in 32 years.
Catantan’s significant short stature was evident when she went against Arianna Errigo of Italy, who paraded a wealthy Olympic experience. Even with the impressive credentials, the world No. 2’s struggle was apparent as the young Filipina reciprocated the attacks despite having a mobility issue with her left knee.
Masking the pain afflicted by her knee injury, Catantan refused to surrender and remained steadfast as she employed her counterattacks effectively, narrowing the deficit to just two points, 12-14.
The 22-year-old’s resilience was evident as she pushed Errigo to the limit.
However, experience and composure ultimately prevailed, with the 36-year-old veteran managing to secure the final point via a red card and win the match, 15-12.
“I know for a fact that coming here, I was not as ready as my other opponents because I just recovered from an injury and I just started fencing by February. But I was really happy with the way I fenced today. Hopefully, in the next tournaments, I will be able to perform better,” Catantan told the media post match.
Catantan braved on but came up short versus Errigo and became the first casualty for the 22-strong Philippine team in the 33rd Olympic Games.
Olympic setback fuels Esteban
Esteban, meanwhile, challenged Tokyo Olympics silver medalist and 13th-seeded Pauline Ranvier of France but suffered an early exit as the hometown bet eked 15-7 in the women’s foil individual Table of 32.
After shedding the Philippines’ red, white and blue for the green, white and orange colors of the Côte d’Ivoire last year, the 24-year-old Esteban marched into the Summer Games oozing with confidence as she ranks No. 27 in the world – the highest ranking ever by a homegrown Filipino fencer.
Ranvier unfortunately dominated Esteban on the piste, establishing a 13-2 lead at the 0:24 mark in the first period. Esteban still notched some points but ultimately could not recover from the huge separation created by the French fencer.
“In my maiden appearance, I am happy to have made a final ranking of #23 out of the 34 fencers. It is an honor to fence the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, Pauline Ranvier from France in the T32, who is also my friend,” Esteban stated after her match.
Regardless of the setback, the Filipino-Ivorian remains positive and paints the future a very encouraging picture as competing for a new federation that is giving her all the support she needs secured her a solid position to excel.
What’s next for the Filipina fencers?
Despite concluding their campaigns early in their maiden appearance in the Olympics, both fencers have already contemplated a bigger and demanding plan for their next career move.
Catantan shared that she will have to compete in as many international tournaments as she can to gain the necessary points to qualify for the next Summer Games.
Esteban, on the other hand, who will be representing Ivory Coast for the rest of her fencing career, will work hard to emerge as No. 20 in the world and reach her peak by the time the next Olympics unfold.
With Catantan and Esteban having long parried battles on and off the piste, bright future beckons the two Filipina fencers as they suit up for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
News
Filipino gymnastics star Carlos Yulo has opted to skip the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December to focus on the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta, where he is competing only in floor exercise and vault due to a left wrist injury.
“I still want the taste of competition,” Yulo said “That is the most important for me right now.”
Yulo, a double gold medalist in vault and floor at the Paris 2024 Olympics, officially announced his SEA Games withdrawal through Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion-Norton. According to Carrion-Norton, Yulo’s decision was motivated by two factors: SEA Games rules now restrict elite gymnasts to only one event, and Yulo’s desire to give other Filipino gymnasts a chance to shine.
“It’s a selfless decision because he likes to give others a chance. He’s now focused on winning in the world championships,” Carrion-Norton said. She added that the SEA Games organizers also scrapped the all-around competition, limiting medal opportunities for top gymnasts.
Yulo revealed his wrist injury occurred two months ago while working on a difficult new dismount on the parallel bars. “I kind of did it too much,” he admitted.
Despite his limited participation in Jakarta, Yulo remains committed to showcasing beautiful, graceful gymnastics. “My goal is to perform beautiful gymnastics, to be really graceful,” he shared.
Yulo is joined at the world championships by fellow Filipino gymnasts Miguel Besana and Ivan Cruz, the latter fresh off a gold medal at the Cambodia SEA Games.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman John Patrick "Pato" Gregorio made a special stop in Indonesia to personally rally the Philippine team at the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, fresh off attending the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports in Hanoi.
Gregorio, known for his hands-on approach, met separately with the men’s and women’s squads at Hotel Mulia, just ahead of their competitions at the Indonesia Arena. “I believe in going where our athletes compete overseas, hoping this will encourage and inspire them to do better,” said Gregorio, who previously led the Philippine Rowing Association and is a long-time supporter of national athletes.
He shared with Paris Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, as well as Juancho Miguel Besana, Justine Ace de Leon, and John Ivan Cruz, that he even drove two hours from Hanoi to Haiphong to meet Pinoy rowers before flying to Jakarta. “It’s different when you see an official supporting you. It boosts your morale,” he noted.
Gregorio, who witnessed Yulo’s historic Olympic double in Paris, emphasized his emotional connection to gymnastics. “You can’t sing the national anthem when you’re crying,” he recalled of Yulo’s golden moments.
He also encouraged the women’s team, led by Paris Olympians Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo, plus debutants Elayza Yulo and Haylee Garcia, to use PSC’s Elite Link app to showcase their achievements and connect with potential patrons.
Besides cheering on the team, Gregorio met with Indonesia’s new Sports Minister Eric Thohir to discuss a potential joint Olympic bid by Southeast Asian nations. “If the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia could co-host the FIBA World Cup, there’s no reason Southeast Asia can’t bid for the Olympics together,” he said.
Gregorio returned to the Philippines Sunday night to oversee upcoming priorities, including the Batang Pinoy National Championships, which will gather 21,000 young athletes in General Santos City.
Alas Pilipinas is setting its sights on the top prize in beach volleyball at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.
“Gold is what we’re aiming for in Thailand,” said Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara during the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge at Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna. “We’ve had plenty of SEA Games bronze medals, and while we know it won’t be easy, we believe it’s possible. I’m hopeful our athletes can turn their Nuvali experience into a gold-medal run in Thailand.”
Thailand and Indonesia have historically dominated SEA Games beach volleyball, while the Philippines has earned six bronze medals—three each in the men’s and women’s divisions—since 2003.
PNVF head coach Joao “Kioday” Luciano Simao Barbosa confirmed the SEA Games lineups: Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, and Dij Rodriguez and Sunny Villapando for the women; James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla, and Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Vergara for the men.
Each country can field two pairs per division. The 33rd SEA Games opens December 9, with beach volleyball running from December 12 to 19 at Bangkok’s Huamark Sports Complex.
“We’re working very hard to fight for the gold,” said Kioday. “All teams are strong, but with a few more months of preparation, we’ll take it step by step—and reach for that gold.”
Spain’s Alejandro Huerta and Adrian Gavira, and Finland’s Anniina Parkkinen and Valma Prihti, claimed top honors at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge, wrapping up an electrifying weekend at Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Huerta and Gavira clinched their first Challenge title as partners after outlasting England’s Javier and Joaquin Bello in a thrilling three-set men’s final, 21–17, 19–21, 17–15. Huerta led the charge with 29 of Spain’s 40 attacks, crediting Gavira’s clutch defense for the win.
In the women’s final, Parkkinen and Prihti rallied for a 17–21, 21–14, 15–11 comeback over Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite, securing Finland’s first-ever Beach Pro Tour Challenge gold. Prihti delivered a dominant all-around performance with 25 points, including 16 attacks, five blocks, and four aces.
Italy’s Manuel Alfieri and Alex Ranghieri secured men’s bronze after a comeback win over Austria’s Christoph Dressler and Philip Waller, while Australia’s Stefanie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming took women’s bronze by edging Czechia’s Kylie Neuschaeferova and Martina Maixnerova.
The FIVB-sanctioned event, hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation under President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, drew 111 pairs from 25 countries—highlighting the Philippines as a premier destination for world-class beach volleyball.
