IT will be Northern Division champion San Juan Predators versus Southern Division winner Iloilo Kisela Knights in the grand finals of the 2022 PCAP All-FIlipino Conference.

San Juan brought down top favorite Pasig Pirates, 11.5-9.5 and 11.5-9.5, in the North finals, while Iloilo bested Davao Eagles, 12-9 and 17-4, in the South to arrange a two-game title showdown on April 9.

This will be the third championship meeting between San Juan and Iloilo in four conferences since the establishment of PCAP last year.

Iloilo defeated San Juan, 13-8 and 11.5-9.5, to rule the 2021GM Wesley So Cup (Second Conference) last August.

The Predators exacted revenge in the 2021 Open (Third Conference) last November, winning 19-2 and 11.5-9.5.

Iloilo also defeated San Juan in the battle for third place in the 2021 All-Filipino (First Conference).

San Juan leaned on WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, who outduelled Sherily Cua, 4-2, in the female board; and Narciso Gumila and Narquingel Reyes, who swept Kevin Arquero, 6-0, on board five to complete a sweep of Pasig in their two-game encounter in the 24-team tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corpiration and Ayala Land.

GM Oliver Barbosa of San Juan and GM Mark Paragua of Pasig battled to a draw in all their four matches for 3-3 score, while IM Rolando Nolte, FM Christopher Castellano and FM Nelson Mariano III of San Juan held GM Darwin Laylo of Pasig to a standoff in four games.

IM Cris Ramayrat was the lone winner for Pasig as he won over IM Ricardo de Guzman of San Juan, 4.5-.1.5, in their four-game match.

Iloilo also did well in a two-game showdown with Davao for the South title.

GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. humbled FM Roel Abelgas, 2.5-.5, and FM Sander Severino, 2-1, while Karl Victor Ochoa outsteadied Abelgas, 3-0, and Severino, 2.5-.5, to power the Leo Sotaridona- managed Kisela Knights to another two-game sweep.

NM Cesar Mariano also contri buted to Iloilo’s success with 5.5-.5 victory NM Alex Lupian in the senior board.

Also scoring for Iloilo were NM Rolly Parondo, Jr. and NM John Michael Silvederio, who both won by 3-0 scores over NM Henry Lopez of Davao.

In the female board, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia of Iloilo settled for a draw with AGM Rowelyn Joy Acedo of Davao, 3-3.

Former national junior champion NM Jonathan Tan of Davao defeated Silvederio, 2-0, and NM Fritz Bryan Porras,1.5-.5.

PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as President- Commissioner; Michael Angelo Chua as Chairman; Dr. Ariel Potot as Vice Chairman and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal as Treasurer.

The 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.

Schedule on April 9:

Championship — San Juan vs. Iloilo
Battle for third — Pasig vs. Davao