DEFENDING champion San Juan Predators and arch-rival Iloilo Kisela Knights pulled off similar inspiring victories over their respective opponents in the 2022 PCAP Third (Open) Conference last Wednesday.

San Juan leaned on IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and FM Narquingden Reyes to bring down league-leader Pasig Pirates by the slimmest of margins, 11-10, in the highly-anticipated battle between the top two teams in the Northern Division.

Bersamina subdued Kevin Arquero, Garcia shocked GM Mark Paragua and Reyes bested Jerome Villanueva all by 2-0 scores in rapid chess to power the Predators of PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella to a vengeful victory over the Pirates.

With WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and IM Ricardo de Guzman drawing their matches against IM Sherily Cua and IM Cris Ramayrat Jr., San Juan clinched an 8-6 victory in rapid competition.

That was enough to erase Pasig’s slim 4-3 triumph over San Juan in blitz chess with Paragua, Arquero and Cua winning their matches on the first three boards.

With San Juan also winning handily over Olongapo Raainbow, 18.5-2.5, in the first match of the day, the Predators tightened their grip on second place with 19-3 win-loss. record.

The Pirates, 16.5-4.5 winner over guest sister team Pasig Juniors kept the top spot at 20-2.

PCAP 2021 All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes crushed Mindoro Tamaraws, 17-4, and Olongapo Rainbow, 17-4, while Manila Indios Bravos outsteadied Rizal Towers, 12-9, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 19-2, to share third and fourth places with 16-6 slates.

Also moving up in the standings are the Cagayan Kings, 12.5-8.5 winner over Quezon City Simba’s Tribe and 13-8 victor over Rizal Towers for a fifth-best 14-8 card.

Over at the Southern Division, Iloilo Kisela Knights relied anew on the heroics of GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Karl Victor Ochoa to escape the Negros Kingsmen, 2-1, in their Armageddon encounter.

Antonio, nicknamed “Iron Man” in online chess, outplayed Bryle Arellano, while Ochoa trounced Ellan Asuela for Iloilo’s two victories in the three-game playoffs.

FM David Elorta averted a shutout for Negros when he beat NM Rolly Parondo, Jr.

The Kisela Knights and the Kingsmen earlier battled to a 10.5-10.5 draw in regular play with both blitz and rapid matches ending in 3.5-3.5 and 7-7 standoffs.

Iloilo, which also won 16-5 over guest PECA Executives, remained in a two-way tie for the top spot with the Davao Eagles at 20-2.

The tournament is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.