Mindoro Tamaraw Mindoro Tamaraws team manager AGM Emmanuel Asi and top female player Denise Sy are the special guests in the 56th “Sports on Air” via Zoom. Joining them are People’s Tonight sports editor Ed Andaya and Gab Ferreras.

Mindoro ready, confident

February 16, 2023 Ed Andaya 441 views

WITH the return of FM Julius Joseph de Ramos and the entry of this year’s No. 1 draft pick Denise Sy, the Mindoro Tamaraws are aiming high in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference starting Saturday.

From last season’s “Heartbreak Kid”, Mindoro is raring to weave its own version of a storybook performance in the country’s first play-for-pay league.

“For the Mindoro Tamaraws, there’s really no way to go but up,” said Mindoro team manager AGM Emmanuel Asi during the 56th “Sports on Air” program via Zoom yesterday.

From the much-awaited return of De Ramos to the acquisition of US-based Nm Reinier Labay to the selection of prized find Sy in the annual draft, the Tamaraws are headed for a breakout season.

“We now have a full line-up of 15 players this conference and we can now to choose based on match-ups and performances,” added Asi, who also expresssed his gratitude to the Mindoro local government officials for supporting the team’s campaign in PCAP.

“Our homegrown players know their roles in the team now. They are sacrificing a lot for the team. Sabi nga, serving the province of Mindoro is greater than ourselves. We really take pride in representing our province.”

Asi also said he is confident that Sy, who represented Mindoro in the Palarong Pambansa and other regional competitions, can hold her own against the top female players of the other teams.

“With the addition of Sy to play on the female board and our No. 2 pick Stephen Reloj, I think we’re competitive enough to represent our province. I challenge Denise to be the best version of herself. Malaki ang tiwala ko sa kanya.”

“If you analyze our games in the previous season, very close naman ang lahat ng mga games namin kahit wala kaming GM or titled players.

Also back for Mindoro is Nezil Arj Merilles, easily the team’s brightest star in the previous season.

In the first year, Mindoro played in the Southern Division and even made the playoffs with a respectable13-21 win-loss record.

But after moving to the Northern Division last year, the Tamaraws finished with an 8-26 record in the GM Wesley So Cup and 4-29 slate in the Open Conference.

Mindoro’s first-round opponent on Saturday is former PCAP champion Iloilo Kisela Knights.

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