SEVEN out of seven for the San Juan Predators.

San Juan whipped IIEE-PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 19.5-1.5, in the sixth round and Isabela Knights of Alexander, 17-4, in the seventh round to keep its perfect record in the 2025 PCAP All-FIlipino Conference chess team championships last Wednesday.

GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr., Karl Victor Ochoa, Jan Jodilyn Fronda and IM Ricardo de Guzman hurdled their respective opponents from both Quezon City and Isabela to lead the Predators to another dominant performance in the 16-team, two-division tournament organized by the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.

Barcenilla swept Francis Talaboc of Quezon City and Alvin Aguinaldo of Isabela,6-0; Ochoa demolished Gerald Ferriol and Edmundo Gatus,6-0; Fronda bested Manilyn Cabungcag and Diana Ramos Banawa, 5-1; and De Guzman overwhelmed Efren Baagamasbad and Gerardo Cabellon,5-1, to lead the Predators of coach Hubert Estrella.

Draws by Cabungcag and Marc Nazario with Fronda and IM Rolando Nolte on boards three and seven allowed Quezon City to avert a shutout.

Lordwin Espiritu saved the day for Isabeba as he upset Narquinden Reyes and Nolte, 3-0, on board five.

Defending champion Manna Load Manna Knights also came away with back-to-back victories over Cagayan Kings, 15-6, and AQ Prime Cavite Spartans, 15-6, to maintan second place with a 6-1 win-loss record.

Shania Mae Mendoza blanked April Joy Ramos, 3-0,; IM Chito Garma edged Gary Legaspi, 2-1; David Elorta downed Anwar Cabugatan and Bencelie Fernandez, 2-1; and Jan Emmanuel Garcia dumped Willi Villaruz and Cabugatan, 3-0, to power Manila to victory.

Tyrone de los Santos upset IM Paulo Bersamina, 2.5-.5, and Marc Francis Balanay nipped Austin Jacob Literatus, 2-1, for Cagayan’s victories.

Bersamina bounced back the following round as he toppled GM Darwin Laylo of Cavite, 2.5.-.5. at the top board.

Mendoza also won over Kylen Mordido, 3-0, and Garma outwitted Alex Lupian, 2-1, to tow the Load Manna Knights to victory.

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

Standings

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

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya