TWENTY teams, led by defending champion San Juan Predators and two-time winner Pasig Pirates, will banner the cast in the third season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference starting Feb. 18.

San Juan, which is led by PCAP chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella, and Pasig, which is managed by Mayor Vico Soto and coach Franco Camillo, are the two winningest teams in the league after bagging the last four championships.

The Predators made history by becoming the first back-to-back champion by winning the 2021 PCAP Third Conference and 2022 All-Filipino Conference, while the Pirates duplicated the feat by ruling the 2022 Second Conference (GM Wesley So Cup) and the 2022 Third Conference.

PCAP president-commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria said the 2023 season will kick off with the Annual Draft Day on Feb. 8 at the Estancia Mall in Pasig City.

The 5 p.m. draft will be face-to-face, according to Atty. Elauria.

Before the draft, there will be an individual tournament from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The complete list of participants:

North — Pasig Pirates, San Juan Predators, Laguna Heroes, Manila Indios Bravos, Cavite Spartans, Isabela Knights of Alexander, Cagayan Kings, Rizal Towers, Quezon City Simba’s Tribe and new member Mandaluyong Tigers.

South — Negros Kingsmen, Davao Eagles, Iloilo Kisela Knights, Cebu Machers, Camarines-Iriga Eagles, Toledo Trojans, Zamboanga Sultans, Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, Tacloban Vikings and Mindoro Tamaraws.

Based on their win-loss records in the last three conferences, Mindoro will make the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Cebu will pick second, followed by Tacloban, Rizal, Quezon City, Cavite, Isabela, Camarines, Cagayan, Mandaluyong, Zamboanga, Surigao, Manila, Toledo, Laguna, Negros, Davao, San Juan, Iloilo and Pasig.

PCAP was established in 2021 with Atty. Elauria as president-commissioner and Chua as chairman.

The Laguna Heroes, bannered by United States-based GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr , and FM Austin Jacob Literatus and managed by PECA president Fred Paez, made history by topping the inaugural tournament the All-Filipino Conference with a 14.5-6.5, 9.5-11.5 and 2-1 (Armageddon) victory over the Camarines Eagles on April 2021.

Sharing the limelight un the league’s first season were the Iloilo Kisela Knights, who ruled the Second Conference with a 13-8, 11-5.9.5 triumph over the San Juan Predators on August 2021; and San Juan, which dominated the Third Conference with a vengeful 19-2, 11.5-9.5 victory over Iloilo on August.

The Predators made it back-to-back championships by winning the 2022 All-Filipino Conference with a 16-5, 10.5-10.5 and 2-1 (Armageddon) win over Iloilo.

It was the turn of the Pasig Pirates of Mayor Vico Sotto and coach Franco Camillo to stamp their class by sweeping the next two PCAP tournaments the GM Wesley So Cup and the Third Conference.

The GM Oliver Barbosa-led Pirates defeated the Kisela Knights, 12.5-8.5, 5.5-15.5 and 2-1 (Armageddon) in the Wesley So Cup last August; and Negros Kingsmen, 10-11,11-10, 2-1 (Armageddon) in the Third Conference last December.

PCAP is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Atty. Richard Clarin, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by Chairman/ President Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

Event sponsors are San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.