TWO-TIME champion San Juan is staying on course for a succesful title defense in the PCAP Third (Open) Conference.

San Juan outsteadied Manila Indios Bravos, 14-7, and Cagayan Kings,15-6, in a pair of decisive matches in the Northern Division last Wednesday,

IM Ricardo de Guzman blanked IM Chito Garma, Narquingel Reyes bested CM Jhulo Goloran and Narciso Gumila outclassed Alji Cantonjos to lead the Predators of PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella to victory over the Indios Bravos.

The victories also cushioned the impact of the upset losses of World Chess Olympiad veteran IM Paulo Bersamina and FM Christopher Castellano on the first two boards.

Bersamina lost to NM Rolando Andador, while Castellano yielded to FM Edgardo Garma.

WNM Arvie Lozano, who took the place of WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, battled to a 1.5-1.5 draw with Jellie Ann Magro on the female board.

Bersamina, De Guzman, FM Narquingden Reyes, Narquingel Reyes and Gumila struck hardest in San Juan’s triumph over Cagayan.

Bersamina whipped Laurence Wilfred Dumadag, while De Guzman crushed Jude Ulanday in both blitz and rapid matches.

Cagayan fought back on victories by Ronald Llavanes over Castellano, 2-1, and April Joy Ramos over Lozano, 3-0.

The twin victories gave San Juan a 25-3 win-loss record behind Pasig Pirates’ 26-2 slatein the Northern Division.

Former PCAP All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes also posted back-to-back victories over Pasig Juniors, 18.5-2.5, and Manila, 12-9.

The other double winners in the North are the Isabela Knights of Alexander, who defeated Mindoro Tamaraws, 12-9, and Olongapo Rainbow, 21-0; and Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, who downed Rizal Towers, 11.5-9.5, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 13.7-7.5.

Standings

North

Pasig 26-2; San Juan 25-3: Laguna 20-8; Manila 18-10; Cagayan 16-12, Isabela 16-12; Cavite 13-15; Rizal 12-16; Quezon City 11-17; Mindoro 3-25; Pasig Juniors 1-17; Olongapo 1-27.

South

Davao 26-2; Iloilo 24-4; Negros 23-5; Toledo 19-9; Surigao 13-15: Palawan 13-15
Camarines 11-17; Tacloban 10-18; Cebu 10-18; Cagayan de Oro 8-20; PECA 5-13;
Pagadian 2-26.