IT will be PCAP Wesley So Cup champion Iloilo Kisela Knights and guest team Penang Panthers-Malaysia in the final of the Southern Division of the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championships.

Iloilo, bannered by GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and NM Cesar Mariano, slammed the door on Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors, 13.5-7.5 and 12-9, to reach the final and keep its hopes for unprecedented back-to-back titles alive.

Iloilo’s championship opponent is Penang, which proved steadier to roll back Camarines Soaring Eagles 10.5-10.5 (2-1) and 13.8.

The winner of the Iloilo-Penang encounter will meet the victor of the Northern Division final between San Juan Predators-Caloocan Load Manna Knights in the grand final on Nov. 27.

Antonio, one of the countrys most-experienced players, swept all his four matches against Elwin Retanal in blitz and Michael Joseph Pagaran in rapid to lead the charge of the Leo Sotaridona-managed Kisela Knights.

Equally impressive was Mariano, who won three of four matches against Lincoln Yap in the senior board.

Fritz Bryan Porras also won all his matches against Anthony Makinano and Allan Pason on board seven.

John Michael Silvedro also took all three points against Pason and Joseph Abellana in the second match.

WIM Bernadette Galas provided the lone bright spot for Lapu-Lapu when she edged WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, 2-1, in the first match and 2.5-.5, in the second match on the female board.

The Penanan-Camarines encounter was a lot more exciting.

FM Wong Yinn Long stood at the helm of the Malaysians’ upset victory as he took three of four points against comebacking GM Mark Paragua their in blitz, rapid and Armageddon encounters.

NM Evan Timothy Cape shocked Ellan Asuela for Prnang’s other cricial victory in Amageddon play, Virgen Gil Ruaya averted a shutout for Camarines when he beat IM Ooi Zhi Yang on board three.

In the North, Caloocan shocked top seed Pasig Pirates, 10.5-10.5 (2-1) and 12-9, and San Juan bested Laguna Heroes, 16.5-4.5 and 11-10, to arrange a titular showdown.

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.

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.

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.

Schedule:

North final: San Juan Predators vs. Caloocan Load Manna Knights
South final — Iloilo Kisela Knights vs. Penang Panthers