Laguna Heroes complete sweep
FORMER champion Laguna Heroes and Negros Kingsmen completed a sweep in their respective divisions in the 2023 PCAP All-Filipino Conference chess team championships over the weekend.
Laguna, which ruled the inaugural PCAP tournament in 2021, posted back-to-back victories over Cagayan Kings, 13.5-7.5, in the eighth round and Cavite Spartans, 10.5-10.5 (3-0 in Armageddon) in the ninth round to finish unbeaten in the Northern Division.
The GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr.-led Heroes swept all their nine matches and garnered 122 points in the tough 10-team division that also featured two other champions, San Juan Predators and Pasig Pirates.
Barcenilla took all seven points on board one, beating Servilano Obana of Isabela, 3-0, and Alexis Maribao of Cavite, 3-0, and Jonathan Dooot of Cavite, 1-0, in Armageddon.
Also winning for the Dr. Fred Paez-owned Heroes wer FM Roel Abelgas,WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and FM Dino Ballecer, who swept their respective matches against Cagayan for similar 3-0 scores.
Abelgas repeated the feat against NM Alvin Alcala of Cavite, 3-0, in regular play and IM Barlo Nadera, 1-0, in Armageddon.
Ballecer completed Laguna’s trhee-game sweep of the playoffs with a victory over Renie Malupa.
WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego defeated Mendoza, 3-0, Dooot blanked Vince Medina,3-0 and NM Petronio Roca bested Nicomedes Alisangco, 2-1, in a losing effort for Cavite.
San Juan and Pasig also hurdled their respective matches with surprising ease, with the Predators sweeping Cavite Spartans, 17-4, in the eighth round, and Rizal Towers, 20-1, in the ninth round; and the Pirates beating Rizal, 17.5-3.5, and Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 21-0.
San Juan, which is being managed by PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella, is second with 8-1 win-loss record and 138.5 points.
Pasig of Mayor Vico Sotto and coach Franco Camillo remains in third with 8-2 slate and .127.5 points.
Newcomer Mandaluyong Tigers blasted Quezon City, 14.5-6.5, and Cagayan, 14.5-6.5, to move up to solo fourth place with a 5-4 record and 106.5 points.
Five teams — Cagayan, Manila Indios Bravos, Cavite, Rizal and Isabela Knights of Alexander — are tied with similar 3-6 slates.
PCAP, the country’s first professional chess league, is headed by PCAP President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Atty. Richard Clarin, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by President-Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay.
The tournament is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.
Games are being played every Wednesday and Saturday.
Schedule of games:
Round 10 –Pasig vs. Davao, San Juan vs. Iloilo, Laguna vs. Negros, Manila vs. Toledo,Cagayan vs. Surigao, Isabela vs Camarines-Iriga, Cavite vs. Tacloban, Rizal vs Cebu, Quezon vs, Mindoro, Mandaluyong vs. Zamboanga.
Round 11 — Iloilo vs. Pasig, Negros vs. San Juan, Toledo vs. Laguna, Surigao vs,Manila, Camarines-Iriga vs. Cagayan, Tacloban vs. Isabela, Cebu vs. Cavite, Mindoro vs. Rizal, Zamboanga vs. Quezon, Davao vs. Mandaluyong,
