FORMER champion Laguna Heroes and Negros Kingsmen emerged as the top seeds in their respective divisions at the close of the elimination round in the 2023 PCAP All-Filipino chess team championships over the weekend.

Laguna, bannered by GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr., FM Roel Abelgas, WNM Jerlyn Mae San Diego and IM Angelo Young, completed a dominant 21-0 sweep over the Cavite Spartans to clinch top seed with a 27-1 win-loss record in the Northern Division.

Barcenilla swept AGM Jose Rafael Legaspi, Abelgas outclassed AGM Alvin Alcala, San Diego clobbered Praise Torre and Young smothered IM Petronio Roca — all by 3-0 scores — to lead the Heroes of Dr. Fred Paez to another impressive finish.

In the quarterfinals scheduled April Laguna will be up against No. 8 seed Rizal Towers.

Equally impressive was Negros, which humbled Tacloban Vikings, 19.5-1.5, to finish as the No. 1 team in the Southern Division with a 25-3 slate.

FM David Elorta, FM Mari Joseph Turqueza, WIM Bernadette Galas and GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. carried the fight for the Kingsmen, who reached the quarterfinal round against No. 8 Mindoro Tamaraws.

The other quarterfinal parings will pit No. 2 San Juan Predators against No. 7 Cagayan Kings, No. 3 Pasig Pirates against No. 6 Cavite Spartans, and No. 4 Mandaluyong Tigers against No. 5 Manila Indios Bravos in the Nothern Division; and No. 2 Davao Eagles against No. 7 Zamboanga Sultans, No. 3 Toledo Trojans against No. 6 Camarines-Iriga Eagles, and No. 4 Iloilo Eagles against No. 5 Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates in the Southern Division.

Last Saturday, San Juan outclassed Rizal, 20-1; Pasig outplayed Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 16-5; and Mandaluyong downed Cagayan, 14.5-6..5.

In the South, Davao overpowered Mindoro, 17-4; Toledo subdued Camarines-Iriga, 11.5-9.5; and Iloilo dumped Cebu Machers, 14-7.

The four last-placed teams in both divisions — Isabela Knights of Alexander and Quezon City Simba’s Tribe and Tacloban Vikings and Cebu Machers — bowed out of contention.

PCAP, the country’s first and only professional chess league, is organized by Atty. Paul Elauria as president and Michael Angelo Chua as chairman, and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.

The prestigious 20-team, two-division 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 Chairman/ President Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

Standings

North — Laguna 27-1; San Juan 26-2;
Pasig 22-6; Mandaluyong 16-12; Manila 15-13; Cavite 14-14, Cagayan 10-18: Rizal 9-19: Isabela 7-21: Quezon City 4-24.

South –Negros 25-3; Davao 21-7; Toledo 19-9: Iloilo 15-13; Surigao 14-14; Camarines- Iriga 13-15: Zamboanga 10-18;
Mindoro 5-23; Tacloban 5-23; Cebu 2-26.

Quarterfinal pairings:

North — (1) Lagiuna vs. (8) Rizal, (2) San Juan vs. (7) Cagayan, (3)Pasig vs. (6) Cavite, (4) Mandaluyong vs. (5) Manila,
South — (1)Negros vs. (8) Mindoro, (2) Davao vs. (7) Zamboanga, (3) Toledo vs. (6) Camarines-Iriga, (4) Iloilo vs. (5) Surigao.