Iloilo, Camarines chessers renew rivalry
PCAP GM Wesley So Cup champion Iloilo Kisela Knights and All-Filipino runner-up Camarines Soaring Eagles renew their rivalry when they meet in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championships.
The Kisela Knights, who lead the way with three straight victories, and the Soaring Eagles, who follow closely behind at 2-0, clash in a rematch of the PCAP All-Filipino Southern Division finals last April.
Camarines defeated Iloilo, 11.5-9.5, 10-11 and 2-1 in Arnageddon to rule the Southern Division.
Iloilo will lean on GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., Karl Viktor Ochoa, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia and NM Cesar Mariano, while Camarines will rely on GM Mark Paragua, Ellan Asuela, Ezraline Alvarez and NM Carlo Lorena.
Elsewhere, San Juan Predators (3-0) stake their perfect record against unpredictable Olongapo Rainbow (1-2) in the Northern Division.
The GM Oliver Barbosa-led Predators swept their first three matches against Caloocan Load Manna Knights, 12.5-8.5, last Sept 15: and Manila Indios Bravos, 11.5-9.5, and Cagayan Kings, 20.5-.5, last Sept. 18.
Backing up Barbosa are IM Rolando Nolte, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and IM Ricky de Guzman.
Equally exciting are the fourth-round matches pitting Manila Indios Bravos (2-1) against Pasig Pirates (2-1), and Laguna Heroes (2-1) against Rizal Towers (2-1) in the North; and Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates (2-1). against Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors (1-2) in the South.
Later in the night, it will be San Juan against Cavite Manila against Rizal, Laguna against Caloocan, Pasig against Olongapo and Isabela against Cagayan in the North; and Iloilo against Cebu, Iriga against Camarines, Lapu-Lapu against Toledo, Mindoro against Surigao and Negros against Palawan.
PCAP is headed by Atty, Paul Elauria, President-Commissioner; Michael Angelo Chua, Chairman; Ariel Potot, Vice-Chairman; and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal, treasurer.
The games are sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra.