NORTHERN Conference teams dominated their Southern Conference counterparts with San Juan Predators, Manila Load Manna Knights and Pasig Pirates leading the charge in the 2025 PCAP All-Filipino Conference.

San Juan outduelled Toledo Trojans, 11.5-9.5, and Camarines Soaring Eagles, 19-2; Manila bested Iloilo Kisela Knights, 17-4, and Bacolod Blitzers, 15-6; and Pasig outplayed Camarines Soaring Eagles, 17-4, and Iloilo Knights, 13-8, to keep their 1-2-3 positions in the North.

GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. outwitted Ellan Asuela, 2-1, on board one and Jan Jodilyn Fronda swept Cherry Ann Mejia, 3-0, on the women’s board to lead the Predators to a narrow victory over the Trojans.

GM Mark Paragua was the top man for Toledo as he won over Karl Victor Ochoa, 2-1 on board two.

Barcenilla, Ochoa, Fronda and IM Ricardo de Guzman carried San Juan over Camarines in the second match.

Overall, San Juan remains as the only unbeaten team with a perfect 9-0 win-loss record.

Manila relied on IM Paulo Bersamina, Austin Jacob Literatus, Shania Mae Mendoza and IM Chito Garma to roll back both their Iloilo and Bacolod opponents and keep second place with 8-1 slate.
Pasig leaned on GM Daniel Quizon, Sherwin Tiu, Sherily Cua and Petronio Roca to beat both Camarines and Iloilo.

AQ Prime Cavite Spartans humbled Iriga Oragons, 14.5-6.5, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 13-8; while Isabela Knights of Alexander swept Zamboanga Sultans, 14.5-6.5, and TFCC LP Bamboo Knights, 19-2, to complete North’s dominance over the South.

Toledo outclassed Rizal Towers, 16.5-4.5, in the ninth round to keep the lead in the Southern Conference with an 8-1 mark.

Bacolod also won over Cagayan Kings,14-5, to stay in second place in the South at 7-2.

PCAP, the country’s first and only professional chess league, is headed by President-Commissioner Atty.Paul Elauria, and Chairman Michael Angelo Chua.

The 16-team, two-division tournament is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land an PCWorx.

Standings

North — San Juan 9-0; Manila 8-1; Pasig 7-2; Cavite 6-3; Cagayan 4-5; Isabela 3-6; Quezon City 3-6; Rizal 2-7.
South — Toledo 8-1; Bacolod 7-2, Iriga 5-4; Camarines 4-5; Mindoro 2-7: Iloilo 2-7;
Zamboanga 2-7; TFCC 0-9.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya