Filipina fencer Sam Catantan in this November 12, 2019 photo. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File.

MANILA -- Filipino fencer Samantha Catantan, who starred for University of the East during her high school days, is set to compete in the championship phase of US NCAA Fencing.

Now playing for Penn State University, Catantan advanced to the championship round thanks to a runner-up finish in the Mid-Atlantic/South Regionals this weekend in New Jersey. The national team standout had a 7-4 win-loss record, with only Charlotte Koenig of Duke University putting up a better slate at 8-3.

This is the fourth season in a row that Catantan will play in the US NCAA Fencing Championships.

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She was an immediate contributor for Penn State, winning a bronze in women's foil in the 2021 NCAA Championships and earning All-America honors.

She was a gold medalist in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2022, winning the women's individual foil crown.  

But Catantan suffered an ACL injury in the following SEA Games in Cambodia in May 2023, forcing her to miss a significant amount of time. The injury -- suffered during the semifinal round -- also cost her the gold medal in her event as she had to withdraw from the championship match.

She has since worked her way back to fitness after undergoing surgery in her left knee in June. 

The NCAA Fencing Championships will take place from March 21 to 24 at the French Field House in Columbus, Ohio.

After competing in the United States, Catantan will try to qualify for the Paris Olympics next month in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Dubai.