Penn State ace triumphs

FILE – Samantha Kyle Catantan of the Philippines (R) competes with Singapore’s Amita Marie Nicolette Berthi during the women’s foil individual final of the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Kuala Lumpur on August 21, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Adek BERRY

National head coach Amatov Canlas has set a high bar for fencing ace Samantha Catantan.

And Penn State’s most valuable fencer didn’t disappoint, playing her cards right to rule the women’s individual foil event of the Garret Open in Pennsylvania.

“Actually, she placed third in her last competition. I told her that I’m not content with the result,’’ Canlas told the Inquirer.

The 19-year-old Catantan defeated Delphine De Vore of Columbia University in the final round to rule her pet event after a 6-0 record in the first phase of pool play.

She wound up with just one setback out of six matches in the second-round elimination to arrange the thrilling finale with De Vore.

Almost three weeks ago, Catantan ended up third in the Temple Open behind Katina Proestakis-Ortiz of University of Pennsylvania and runner-up Sarah Filby of Northwestern University.

“She should not be satisfied with a bronze medal. She should level up and push herself more because I told her that I want a gold medal,’’ added Canlas, who nurtured Catantan since the latter picked up the sword more than a decade ago.

Catantan, an Olympic Solidarity Movement scholar of the International Olympic Committee, was Penn State’s MVP during last season’s US NCAA Fencing Championship.

“I’m so happy with Sam’s performance. She is getting stronger and stronger,’’ said Canlas of Catantan’s most recent victory.

Catantan was a bronze medalist in women’s foil in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and the anchor of the powerhouse UE Lady Warriors in the UAAP before securing a scholarship grant from Penn State last year. INQ