Filipino fencers still looking for gold as Abella settles for epee silver

Fencer Haniel Abella (left) of the Philippines against Singapore’s Kiria Abdul Rahman during the final bout of the Fencing Epee held at World Trade Center. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fencers were left searching for the elusive gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Wednesday at World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Haniel Abella settled for the silver medal after bowing to Singapore’s Kiria Abdul Rahman in the Women’s Individual Epee Final.

Abella fought back from a six-point deficit heading into the final round but only to fall short in the end.

Abella, who also won the silver in the same event in the 2017 SEA Games, pulled within two, 12-14, with 1:50 to go before Abdul Rahman sneaked in a gold medal-clinching point.

In men’s individual foil, Nathaniel Perez took his first loss at the most inopportune time, yielding to Hans Yoong of Malaysia, 11-15, in the semifinals.

Perez, who won the bronze, had an undefeated streak—which included a 5-0 victory over Yoong in the preliminaries—heading into his rematch with the Malaysian.

The Filipinos improved their fencing medal haul to two silvers and two bronzes.

CJ Concepcion and Samantha Catantan won silver in men’s individual sabre and bronze in women’s individual foil, respectively, at the start of the competitions last Tuesday.