SAN Juan Predators and Camarines Soaring Eagles pulled off similar inspiring victories to take the lead in the 2021 PCAP-GM WesleySo Cup chess championships over the weekend.

San Juan leaned on WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Narciso Gumila to bring down Caloocan Load Manna Knights, 12-9, in their much-awaited rematch in the Northern Division.

Camarines overcame the absence of top player GM Mark Paragua to subdue Negros Kingsmen, 12-9, in a crucial heavyweight battle in the Southern Division.

The victories enabled San Juan and Camarines to keep the lead with only five rounds remaining before the start of the eight-team playoffs in this tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corporation.

Fronda swept Arvie Lozano in both their blitz and rapid matches on the female board, while Gumila toppled Glenn Lemen and IM Barlo Nadera on board five as San Juan avenged its 9-12 setback to Caloocan last May 26.

GM Oliver Barbosa and Narquingel Reyes also struck for the Predators of PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and coach Hubert Estrella by winning over Nelson Villanueva and Paul Sanchez, respectively.

Caloocan’s 1-2 punch,IM Paulo Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia, did their part b beating IM Ricardo de Guzman and FM Narquinden Reyes, respectively, in the top two boards.

IM Jimmy Liew of Caloocan also pulled a surprise by edging GM Victor Moskalenko of San Juan , 2-1.

Earlier, San Juan routed Cavite, 19-2. with IM Petronio Roca averted a rare shutout for the Spartans by beatingMoskalenko in rapid play.

Overall,San Juan leads the way with a league-best 27-2 win-loss record and 435 total points.

Manila Indios Bravos also completed a weekend sweep by beating Pasig Pirates, 13.5-7.5, and Antipolo Cobras,12-9, to vault into solo second place with 25-4 record.

GM Julio Sadorra and IM Cris Ramayrat, Jr. carried the fight for the Indios Bravos in the two victories over the Pirates and Cobras.

Sadorra outwitted Mongolian GM Munkhgal Gombosuren of Pasig and NM Emmanuel Emperado of Antipolo, whle Ramayrat bestedNM Rudy Ibanez of Pasig and IM Ronny Gunawan of Antipolo.

PCAP All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes also completed a twin kill by blastingQuezon City Simba’s Tribe,17-4, and Olongapo Rainbow,12-9. for 23-6 slate.

Leading the Heroes’charge were GM Rogelio Barcenilla, GM John Paul Gomez, FM Austin Jacob Literatus and FM Efren Bagamabad, who hurdled their matches.

In the South, Camarines outplayed Negros, 12-9, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 16-5-4.5, despite playing minus Paragua to join Cordova Dagami Warriors at the top with 24-5 records.

Camarines, however, edged Cordova, 395-394, in total points.

Cordova dumped Cebu City Machers,14.5-6.5, and Toledo City Trojans, 16.5-4.5, to boost its chances for playoff positioning.

Also making their presence felt were Iloilo Kisela Knights, who downed Zamboanga Sultans, 16.5-4.5,and Surigao Checkmates, 16.5-4.5.

Games July 7:

Round 30 — Laguna vs. Antipol, Isabela vs. Manila, Cavite vs. Olongapo, Cagayan vs. Pasig, Caloocan vs. Quezon, San Juan vs. Rizal, Lapu-Lapu vs. Camarines, Iriga vs. Mindoro, Iloilo vs. Negros, Cordova vs. Palawan, Cebu vs. Surigao, Zamboanga vs. Toledo

Round 31 — Antipolo vs. Isabela, Laguna vs. Cavite, Manila vs. Cagayan, Caloocan vs. Olongapo, Pasig vs. San Juan, Quezon vs. Rizal, Camarines vs. Iriga, Lapu-Lapu vs. Iloilo,Mindoro vs. Cordova, Cebu vs. Negros, Palawan vs. Zamboanga, Surigao vs. Toledo.