PCAP

Manila, Iloilo chessers take headstart

September 16, 2021 Ed Andaya 641 views

MANILA Indios Bravos served notice of their title aspirations by edging All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes, 12-9, at the start of the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation- Ayala Land chess championships.

IM John Marvin Micano swept FM Austin Jacob Literatus, 3-0, while FM Edgardo Garma blanked FM Vince Angelo Medina, 3-0, in both blitz and rapid matches to lead Manila to an early victory in the tournament serving as the third conference of the country’s first play-for-pay chess league.

Also winning their matches for Manila were WNM Mira Mirano, who defeated Michella Concio, 2-1, in the female encounter; and IM Cris Ramayrat, who edged FM Efren Bagamasbad, 2-1,in the senior board.

GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr., GM John Paul Gomez and Kimuel Lorenzo led the Heroes with victories over IM Chito Garma, USNM Ryan Dungca and CM Genghis Imperial, respectively.

The Garma brothers were the newest additions to Manila, which won despite playing minus GM Julio Catalino Sadorra.

Over at the South, GM Wesley So Cup champion Iloilo Kisela Knights played just hard enough to beat Palawan Queen’s Gambits, 18-3.

GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. Karl Viktor Ochoa, NM Cesar Mariano, NM John Michael Silvederio and Fritz Bryan Porras swept their respective opponents in both blitz and rapid games to lead Iloilo.

WIM-elect Shania Mae Mendoza was the lone winner for Palawan as she defeated WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, 2-1, on female board.

The other opening-day winners were Pasig Pirates, who clobbered Cavite Spartans, 16.5-4.5; San Juan Predators, who outsteadied Caloocan Load Manna Knights, 12.5-8.5; Rizal Towers,who downed Cagayan Kings, 12.5-8.5; and Olongapo Rainbow, who edged Isabela Knight Raiders, 11-10, in the North; and Negros Kingsmen, who routed Iriga Oragons,15.5-5.5; Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors, who overwhelmed Mindoro Tamaraws,13-8; Toledo Trojans, who routed Cebu Machers, 12.5-8.5; and Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, who toppled Cordova Dagami Warriors,12-9.

The 11th team in the South — Camarines Soaring Eagles — drew a bye.

Pasig relied on Rudy Ibanez, Kevin Arquero and Eric Labog to roll back Cavite; San Juan leaned on GM Oliver Barbosa, IM Ricardo de Guzman and Narquingel Reyes to frustrate Caloocan; Rizal turned to IM Joel Pimentel, NM Elias Lao and AGM Herman Vallente to beat Cagayan; and Olongapo rode on Levi Mercado, Joshua Bautista and Abgel Orijuela to surprise Isabela in other North Division matches.

Tournament format is single-round elimination with the top eight teams advancing to the next stage. They will be joined by four foreign and three local guest teams.

The foreign teams are China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Also seeing action as guest teams are the Philippine Paralympics chess team, the Davao Eagles and the Pampanga Checkers. PCAP is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and Vice Chairman Ariel Potot.

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-President Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

Games Sept. 18:

Second round
North — San Juan vs. Manila, Olongapo vs. Laguna, Pasig vs. Isabela, Rizal vs. Cavite, Caloocan vs. Cagayan.
South — Negros vs. Lapu-Lapu, Palawan vs. Iriga, Surigao vs.Iloilo, Toledo vs. Cordova, Camarines vs. Cebu.

Third round
North — Cagayan vs. San Juan, Cavite vs. Caloocan, Isabela vs. Rizal, Laguna vs. Pasig, Manila vs. Olongapo.
South — Cordova vs. Camarines, Iloilo vs Toledo, Iriga vs. Surigao, Lapu-Lapu vs. Palawan, Mindoro vs. Negros.

AUTHOR PROFILE