PASIG Pirates brought down defending champion Laguna Heroes, 11-10, in the battle of unbeaten teams even as Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates upset Iloilo Kisela Knights, 10.5-10.5 and 2-1 in Armageddon in the 2022 PCAP All-Filipino Conference.

GM Darwin Laylo and IM Chris Ramayrat delivered the much-needed victories as the Pirates extended their winning streak to six games in the 12-team Northern Division.

Laylo edged FM Austin Jacob Literatus, 2-1, on board two and Ramayrat swept Apollo Agapay, 3-0, on board seven to lead the Pirates’ sixth straight win.

WFM Sherily Cua outduelled WNM Jean Karen Enriquez, 2-1, on the female board and IM Eric Labog nipped Vince Medina, 2-1, on board five to compelete Pasig’s victory.

GM Mark Paragua of Pasig battled GM Rogelio Barcenilla of Laguna to a 1.5-1.5 draw at the top board.

FM Efren Bagamasbad and Kimuel Lorenzo provided the only victories for Laguna when they won ovr NM Rudy Ibanez and Jerome Villanueva, respectively.

Pasig completed a double celebration by beating Cavite Spartans, 19.5-1.5, in the sixth round later in the day.

Overall, Pasig leads the way with 6-0 record and 89 total points.

PCAP GM Wesley So Cup champion San Juan Predators swept Cagayan Kings, 15-6, and Rizal Towers, 13.5-7.5, to match Pasig’s perfect record.

The Hubert Estrella-mentored Predators, however, trail behind with 83.5 points.

IM Rolando Nolte, FM Christopher Castellano, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and IM Ricardo de Guzman led San Juan’s back-to-back victories in the tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corporation and Ayala Land.

Laguna bounced back from a narrow setback to Pasig with a vengeful 18-3 victory over Mindoro Tamaraws to keep third place with 5-1 win-loss record.

Barcenilla blanked AGM Emmanuel Asi, 3-0, and Enriquez routed AFM Cylliz Kaessa Meril to lead the Heroes’ charge.

Caloocan Load Manna Knights bested MIndoro, 13-8, and Manila Indios Bravos, 10.5-10.5 and 3-0 Armageddon, while Isabela Knight Raiders outsteadied Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 11-.5-9.5 and Olongapo Rainbow, 13.5-7.5 to share fourth to fifth places with 4-2 slates.

Over at the Southern Division, Surigao pulled the rug from under Iloilo on victories by Lennon Hart Salgados over NM Rolly Parondo, Jr. and John Ranel Morazo over Karl Viktor Ochoa in their tiebreak matches.

Veteran GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr ws the lone winner for Iloilo when he defeated Antonio Chavez.

Earlier, the Fianchetto Checkmates and the Kisela Knights battled to 3.5-3.5 (blitz) and 7-7 (rapid) standoff.

Iloilo edged Negros Kingsmen, 11-10, in the second match for the day to join Davao Eagles in the lead with 5-1 records.

Davao, bannered by reigning IPCA champion FM Sander Sevrino and Kazan Universiade campaigner Mary Palero, defeated Tacloban Vikings, 11-10, and Palawan Queen’s GAmbits, 16-5, to vault into the lead with its fifth win in six matches.

Severino clobbered Jimmy Ty, 3-0, while Palero outlasted Catherine Pojas, 2-1, to power the Eagles.

Standings

Northern Division

Pasig 6-0, San Juan 6-0, Laguna 5-1; Caloocan 4-2, Isabela 4-2; Manila 3-3, Cagayan 3-3; Quezon City 2-4; Rizal 1-5,
Cavite 1-5, Mindoro 1-5; Olongapo 0-6.

Southern Division

Davao 5-1, Iloilo 5-1; Negros 4-2, Zamboanga 4-2, Cagayan de Oro 4-2, Surigao 4-2; Palawan 3-3; Camarines 2-4; Toledo 2-4; Taclban 1-4*; Iriga 1-5; Cebu 0-5*.
* — with one unfinished game

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya