WHO will be the champion in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess team championships?

Will it be PCAP All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes, led by GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. and Karen Jean Enriquez?

Will it be PCAP Wesley So Cup winner Iloilo Kisela Knights, led by GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Cherry Ann Mejia?

Will it be any of the other PCAP founding member-teams, which underwent players’ build-up as part of their preparations for the season-ending conference?

Will be any of the four foreign teams and three local teams competing as guest teams?

The answers will be known starting today when the first round of the 21-team, two-division tournament kicks off at 7 p.m.

Laguna Heroes, who earned the distinction as the first-ever PCAP champion when they defeated the Camarines Soaring Eagles to rule the All-Filipino Conference, will open their campaign against the much-improved Manila Indios Bravos.

The Dr. Fred Paez-owned Laguna team retained the nucleus of its line-up built around Barcenilla, Enriquez, GM John Paul Gomez, FM Efren Bagamasbad, FM Austin Jacob Literatus and Vince Angelo Medina.

Manila, however, added more teeth to its line-up.

The Indios Bravos of team manager Paulo Elauria signed up IM Chito Garma and brother Edgardo to bolster its lineup that includes GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, IM Marvin Miciano, Mira Mirano, IM Ronald Dableo and IM Cris Ramayrat.

Chito Garma played for the Zamboanga Sultans, while Edgardo Garma saw action for the Quezon City Simba’s Pride.

Both Zamboanga and Quezon City begged off from participation in the third conference.

Iloilo Kisela Knights, on the other hand, will square off with the Palawan Queen’s Gambits.

Other opening-day matches will pit Load Manna Knights against San Juan Predators, Cagayan Kings against Rizal Towers, Cavite Spartans against Pasig Pirates and Isabela Knight Raiders against Olongapo Rainbow in the North; and Cebu City Machers against Toledo Trojans, Cordova Dagami Warriors against Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, Iriga Oragons against Negros Kingsmen and Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors against Mindoro Tamaraws in the South.

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

The games of the third conference will begin shortly after the awarding ceremony of the GM Wesley So Cup.

“After the awarding ceremony for the winners of the GM Wesley So Cup, the games of our third conference will begin right away,” said PCAP president- commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria.

“We again expect exciting matches in both the North and South divisions,” added Elauria.

Elauria also confirmed that three member-teams — Antipolo Cobras, Quezon City Simba’s Tribe and Zamboanga Sultans — took a leave of absence in the third conference.

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 Elauria, Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and Vice Chairman Ariel Potot.

The prestigious professional 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.