TWO-TIME champion San Juan Predators and defending champion Iloilo Kisela Knights went through the proverbial eye of the needle to advance to the finals of their respective divisions in the 2022 PCAP-GM Wesley So Cup chess team championships over the weekend.

San Juan brought down Caloocan Load Manna Knights, 8-13, 11.5-9.5, and 2-1 in Armageddon in the Northern Division, while Ioilo survived Toledo City Trojans, 12.5-8.5 and 11.5-9.5 in the Southern Division to remain on collision course for a fourth straight championship in five conferences.

GM Oliver Barbosa outwitted WIM Luong Phuong Hanh, while FM Nelson Mariano subdued IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia to clinch the victory for San Juan of PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella in the three-game playoffs.

NM Emmanuel Emperado averted a shutout for Caloocan when he defeated FM Narquingden Reyes on board three.

Both team missed key players in their semifinal encounter — WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda of San Juan and IM Paulo Bersamina of Caloocan.

Both Fronda and Bersamina are currently playing for the Philippine team in the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India.

But the two teams went all out, with Caloocan winning the first match, 13-8, and San Juan taking the second match, 11.5-9.5, to send the match into Armageddon.

Hanh took all three points against Mary Palero-Segerra on the female board, while Prince Mark Aquino, Emperado, Garcia and IM Barlo Nadera posted 2.5-.5 victories over Barbosa, Mariano and Narciso Gumila as Caloocan drew first blood.

San Juan, however, struck back on victories by Barbosa over Aquino and Emperado, 3-0, and Reyes over Paul Sanchez, 3-0, and Barbosa n the second match.

In the North final, San Juan will meet top seed Pasig Pirates, 12.5-8.5 and 12-9 winner over inaugural PCAP All-Filipino Conference champion Laguna Heroes in the other semifinal.

Over in the South, Iloilo relied on GM Hovhanes Gabuzyan, WFM Cherry Ann Meija, and GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. to eliminate the hard-fighting Toledo side.

Gabuzyan swept Bonn Rinauld Tibod and Merben Roque, Mejia outplayed Jinky Catulay, and Antonio bested IM Rico Mascariñas — all by 6-0 scores — to power the Leo Sotaridona-managed Kisela Knights.

GM Xu Yi, Rommel Gacang and Allan Pason carried the fight for the Jeah Gacang-owned Trojans.

Xu, Toledo’s Chinese import, got the better of FM Karl Victor Ochoa, while Ganzon edged Fritz Bryan Porras and John Michael Silvederio for the Trojan’s points.

Ioilo’s championship opponent is Negros Kingsmen, 10.5-10.5 (2-1 Armageddon) and 10.5-10.5 (2-1) winner over Davao Eagles.

Victories by both San Juan and Iloilo over Pasig and Negros on Wednesday would send them to their fourth stright title showdown.

Iloilo defeated San Juan in their two-match duel , 13-8 and 11.5-9.5, to win the first Wesley So Cip last August 2021.

San Juan, however, took the next two crowns by beating Iloilo, 19-2 and 11.5-9.5, in the PCAP Third Conference last November 2021 and 16-5 and 10.5-10.5 (2-1 Armageddon) in the PCAP First Conference last April.

PCAP, the country’s first play-for-pay league, is headed by PCAP President Atty. Paul Elauria.

The 24-team tournament is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation,Ayala Land and PCWorx and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) under Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra.