WITH the top two teams in both the Northern and Southern Conferences already known, the battle shifts to the play-in competition in the 2023 PCAP-GM Wesley So Cup chess team championships.

Defending champions Pasig Pirates and San Juan Predators clinched the first two outright semis berths after finishing with identical 23-2 win-loss records in the Northern Conference.

Toledo Trojans wrapped up the Southern Conference crowd with a 22-3 record and towed second-running Iloilo Kisela Knights (15-10) o the semis.

That left the Cavite Spartans, who finished third with 21-4 slate, and Isabela Knights, who hold the fourth-best record at 15-10, in the North play-in.

Cavite will battle No. 6 Manila Indios Bravos (12-13), while Isabela will clllash with No. 5 Laguna Heroes (14-11) for the right to join Pasig and San Juan in the next round.

Over in the South, No. 3 Mindoro Tamaraws (12-13) will meet No. 6 Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates (10-15) and No. 4 Davao Stallions (11-14) will play No. 5 Cebu Niños (10-16) for the remaining two semis berths.

Already eliminated in the 18-team, two-division tournament are Quezon City SImba’s Tribe (8-17); Cagayan Kings (7-18 ) and Rizal Towers (5-20). in the North; and Iriga (8-17); Camarines Eagles (6-19) and Negros Sports (3-22) in the South.

Meanwhile, Joel Banawa of Isabela Knights emerged as the top individual perfomer with 64.5 points on 40 wins, six draws and four losses.

WIM Cherry Ann Mejia and GM Richard Bitoon of Toledo Trojans came in second and third, respectively.

Mejia was a close second with 64 points on 40 wins, five draws and five losses, while Bitoon was third with 61 points on 36 wins, six draws and eight losses.

Narquingel Reyes of San Juan Predators and Cris Ramayrat of Pasig Pirates were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Reyes has 59 points (36-7-6), while Ramayrat has 54.5 points (33-7-4).

PCAP, the country’s first play-for-pay league, is headed by President- Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, Chairman Michael Angelo Chua, Treasurer Atty. Arnel Batungbakal and technical committee head Engr. Jojo Buenaventura.

The tournament is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCorx and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by chairman Atty. Richard Clarin.

Standings:

North — Pasig 23-2, San Juan 23-2; Cavite 21-4; Isabela 15-10, Laguna 14-11;
Manila 12-13; Quezon City 8-17; Cagayan 7-18; Rizal 5-20.

South– Toledo 22-3, Iloilo 15-10; Mindoro 12-13; Davao 11-14; Cebu 10-15, Surigao 10-15; Iriga 8-17; Camarines 6-19;
Negros 3-22.