CALOOCAN Load Manna Knights shocked top seed Pasig Pirates, 10.5-10.5 (2-1) and 12-9, while San Juan Predators subdued Laguna Heroes, 16.5-4.5 and 11-10, to arrange a titular showdown in the North division in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championships last Saturday.

IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Domingo Ramos struck hardest for Caloocan, which went through the probervial eye of the needle before reaching the North final for the first time in three conferences.

Bersamina outwitted Eric Labog and Garcia humbled David Elorta to power the Load Manna Knights to a 2-1 victory over the Pirates in their three-game playoffs after battling to a 10.5-10.5 standoff in the first of their two-match encounter.

Kevin Arquero of Pasig averted a sweep by beating Nelson Villanueva of Caloocan.

Ramos bested Rudy Ibanez, 3-0, in the senior board in other notable result for Caloocan of team manager Arnel Batungbakal.

In the second mach, Bersamina swept GM Roland Salvador, 3-0, Garcia downed Tiu, 2.5-.5, and Nadera blanked Labog, 3-0, as Caloocan finished off Pasig.

GM Oliver Barbosa, WIM Jan Jodilyn Frinda, IM Ricardo de Guzman came through with the all-important victories as San Juan reached the North final for the third straight conference.

Barbosa outplayed FM Austin Jacob Literatus and GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr., 3-0, on board one, Fronda smothered WNM Jean Karen Enriquez and Michaella Concio, 3-0, on the female board and De Guzman trounced FM Efren Bagamasbad, 3-0, in the senior board in San Juan’s 16.5-4.5 triumph.

FM Narquingden Reyes of San Juan was also an upset winner over GM John Paul Gomez of Laguna.

The first match was actually close with San Juan and Laguna battling to 3.5-3.5 draw in blitz.

But the Hubert Estrella-mentored Predators turned the game around with 13-1 demolition in rapid play, with only Literatus escaping with draw against IM Rolando Nolte.

In the second match, Barcenilla got back at Barbosa as did Literatus against Nolte and Gomez against Reyes. But victories by Fronda and De Guzman sealed a narrow win for San Juan, 11-10.

PCAP Wesley So Cup champion Iloilo Kisela Knights and guest team Penang Panthers-Malaysia arranged a title duel.

Iloilo clobbered Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors, 13.5-7.5 and 12-9, while Penang outsteadied Camarines Soaring Eagles 10.5-10.5 (2-1) and 13.8.

PCAP, the country’s first play-for-pay chess league, is headed by Atty. Elauria as President-Commissioner; Michael Angelo Chua as Chairman; and Ariel Potot as Vice Chairman.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay.