MANILA Indios Bravos pulled off the biggest surprise in the 2022 PCAP All-Filipino Conference when they eliminated defending champion Laguna Heroes, 10.5-10.5 (2-1) and 13.5-7,5, in a keenly-watched quarterfinal showdown last Wednesday.

Former Asian Senior champion IM Chito Garma rediscovered his old brilliance as he swept IM Angelo Young in all their four blitz and rapid matches in the senior board to power the Indios Bravos to an inspiring victory over the Heroes in their No. 6 versus No. 3 quarterfinal encounter.

Garma, who topped the 9th Asian Seniors chess championships in Tagaytay City in 2018, was instrumental in forging a 10.5-10.5 score in the first of the two-match encounter and sending the match to a three-game playoffs.

Garma,who endeared himself to local chess fans with his monicker “Garmageddon”, asserted himself against Young in the second match, which ended convincingly for Manila.

IM Ronald Dableo toppled GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr., and FM Deniel Causo outsteadied Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo in their playoff matches to clinch the victory for Manila.

GM Julio Sadorra, NM Rolando Andador, WNM Mira Mirano and Causo also delivered the much-needed victories for Manila in the second match.

Sadorra edged Barcenilla, 2-1; Andador bested FM Austin Jacob Literatus, 2-0; Mirano downed Michella Concio, 2-0; and Causo humbled Vince Angelo Medina, 2-0.

Manila’s semifinal opponent is No. 2 seed San Juan Predators, who made short work of No. 7 Isabela Knight Raiders, 13.5-7.5 and 18-3.

GM Oliver Barbosa, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, IM Ricardo de Guzman and Narquingel Reyes carried the fight for the Predators, who played just hard enough to slam the door on the Knight Raiders.

Barbosa outclassed Edmundo Gatus and Melchor Foronda, Fronda whipped Sheryll Bordon and Diana Ramos, De Guzman humbled Gatus and Reyes outplayed Lordwin Espiritu and Anwar Cabugatan.

The other semifinal pairing will pit top seed Pasig Pirates and No. 4 Caloocan Load Manna Knights.

Pasig dispatched No. 8 Rizal Towers, 16.5-4.5 and 15.5-5.5, while Caloocan ousted No. 5 Cagayan Kings, 12.5-8.5 and 15-6.

The semifinal round will be played on April 2, and the division final will be held on April 5.

The champion of the Northern Division will meet the winner of the Southern Division in the grand finals of the tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corpiration and Ayala Land.

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

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.

Schedule of semifinals:

North — No. 1 Pasig vs. No. 4 Caloocan; No. 2 San Juan vs. No. 6 Manila.
South — No. 1 Iloilo vs. No. 4. Negros; No. 2 Davao vs. No. 6 Toledo.