Maxine Esteban was not dropped by our fencing fed and was the Philippine fencing rep to the Olympics, we would’ve not realized the potential of Samantha Catantan. 

World top 30 Esteban was controversially dropped by the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) from the Olympic selection pool due to a knee injury in 2022. Focus shifted to Catantan, a mere top 300. This decision prompted the highly-rated Esteban to switch allegiance to the Ivory Coast, which she represents as a naturalized citizen. 

While Catantan is lesser-known, she and Esteban had the same career path, with both hailing from the UAAP then transferring to the United States to compete in the US NCAA. Both studied and played varsity in the state of Pennsylvania–Esteban for UPenn and Catantan for Penn State. 

Esteban has a robust international experience, winning medals in FIE events in Europe, America, and Asia. Catantan’s experience, on the other hand, is limited to the US NCAA and Southeast Asian circuit. 

Esteban is the ideal glamor girl of the sport: A product of elite schools ICA and Ateneo, a summa cum laude graduate of the Ivy League UPenn, and a world top 30. Media rave not only for her skills and brains, but her celebrity-like looks.

Catantan is the polar opposite. Coming from a lower middle class background, her fencing career was initially sponsored by the Quezon City government. She honed her skills at the University of the East, the UAAP school with the winningest fencing program. She studied at and played for a state university in the U.S. Still, she is at the doormat of the world ranking. 

When Esteban was dropped, rage from Filipino sports fans and media pundits came not as a surprise. Again, allegations of internal politics, corruption, and favoritism were rife—a narrative hounding several sports feds in this country.

There is also this recent bias against grassroots talent across Philippine sports, given the rise of athletes from abroad or from elite domestic programs. Esteban comes from a more sophisticated background, with better access to scientific training and international exposure. Catantan comes from the grassroots and has minimal exposure to higher level competitions. It also came not as a surprise for her to be dragged in the controversy, being branded as the federation’s pet, an allegation Esteban vehemently slams in defense of Catantan. 

Esteban had an easier route to the Olympics–her much superior ranking and accumulated points from the several tournaments she participated brought her in. Catantan had to top a grueling Asian qualifying tournament for the big ticket. 

Esteban earned a round-of-64 bye and was pitted against world number 15 Pauline Ranvier. The French former Olympic team silver medalist had a slight edge in terms of rank and accolades, but this was seen as an even match by pundits, given Esteban’s meteoric ascent. 

Catantan, on the other hand, had to go through the round-of-64 as a heavy underdog against world number 65 Mariana Pistoia of Brazil, and in the unlikely event she scores an upset, she would be pitted against world number two, the legendary Arriana Errigo of Italy. 

Esteban was a medal hopeful. Catantan seemed to be a mere filler.

To start her campaign, the diminutive Catantan dropped three early points against the towering Pistoia. Come the 24 second mark of the first round, disaster struck. Catantan’s left knee buckled as she cried in pain. 

After a lengthy timeout, a walkover was looming for the Brazilian. Catantan, however, decided to fight off the pain. Down, 4-7, the Pinay showed heart by scoring two quick points in the 24 seconds and two more to start the second round.

It was an intense back-and-forth between the healthy Brazilian and the hobbled Filipina. Down 12-13, Catantan mustered all her energy, her grimacing face seen clearly inside her dark helmet, to snatch the win by scoring the last three points.

It was an impossible result even if Catantan stayed healthy. Now handicapped, the next mission was against Arrigo.

If this is women’s tennis, Catantan’s equivalent is Russian unknown Sofya Lansere, a pedestrian W25-level netter. After defeating Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa (Pistoia’s equivalent) in the first round in a tight straight-set match, she is up against two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff (Arrigo’s equvalent).

Given Catantan’s injury, it should have been a 0-15 result. Still, Catantan brought the business to Arrigo, willing her way to pester the former Olympic gold medalist.

Catantan lost narrowly at 12-15 in three rounds. She is human, after all. It is just impossible for an injured warrior to beat a healthy Titan. Like Icarus, Catantan’s wings might have melted, but she never fell from the sky. She is just 22 years young, and she is on an upward trend.

Esteban, on the other hand, was forgettable, dropping her opener, 7-15—an easy win forRanvier.

While of different social backgrounds, Catantan and Esteban lived parallel lives. They are almost the same age. Both started in the Philippines and sharpened their blades in Pennsylvania. Both made their Olympic debut in Paris. The two are close friends in real life.

But their paths dramatically diverged just because of that single decision by their federation: To embrace one and drop the other.

Did Esteban make the right decision to switch nationalities? Definitely yes. She certainly knows her worth and she has the hardware to back it. Ivory Coast welcomed her with open arms and provided a sporting atmosphere that is more conducive for her. Her Olympic performance does not define her totality and we should cheer her to bounce back from this.

Did PFA make the right decision to field Catantan instead? With the recent result, it is a resounding yes. It is impossible for the Philippines anyway to field two fencers in the same contest given the limited continental quotas. It was good for Esteban to go to Africa with a wider space to shine while PFA was in a better position to concentrate its resources for Catantan for her to be able to succeed in the more congested Asian field. While this decision might have appeared to be short-sighted, the current conditions warranted it. Hopefully, though, PFA will bolster its grassroots development to produce a thousand Catantans and Estebans. Only through that can we say that we have a truly working sports program.

Esteban walked out in order for Catantan to run. We should all be proud of our lady fencers. Abante, babae!