UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas completed a men’s three-peat, while Far Eastern University reclaimed the women’s title at the end of the UAAP chess tournament on Sunday at the FEU Tech Gym.

The Growling Tigers annexed their 10th title overall after an undefeated run with 18 match points built around eight wins and two draws.

The most successful program in the sport, the Lady Tamaraws returned to the throne for the first time since 2019.

For coach GM-elect Ronald Dableo, it all boiled down to the fundamentals for UST to retain the championship, besting Ateneo, which placed second with 15 match points and University of the Philippines, which reached the podium with 13.

“Practice talaga. Kailangan kong praktisin. Although lahat naman sila mga kilalang player na yan. Magagaling na rin talaga. Sobrang daling i-organize tapos disiplina lang. For the team lagi, kasi iba yung team sa individual eh,” said Dableo.

The Growling Tigers were led by Melito Ocsan Jr., who was able to nab the season MVP award and the Board 2 gold medal despite all the pressing academic commitments.

“Sobrang laking achievement kasi supposedly ito na po yung parang feel kong last season ko na. Hindi ko naman po inexpect na magpeperform ako nang maganda ngayong season kasi andaming struggles nung bago mag-UAAP. Nag-thesis ako tapos nag-OJT. Ang hirap pagsabayin pero buti nag-perform kami,” Ocsan said.

Rookie of the Year and NM Chester Reyes was UST’s other gold medalist in Board 3.

The women’s championship was FEU’s sixth as the Morayta-based woodpushers ended National University’s two-year reign.

The Lady Tamaraws logged 19 match points to beat the Lady Bulldogs, who settled for 17 points in second place. The Blue Eagles tallied 15 points in third place.

“Ang sabi ko sa kanila ang pagiging champion it takes a lot of hard work,” said FEU coach GM Jayson Gonzales.

Woman NM Mary Joy Tan, who spearheaded the Lady Tamaraws’ championship run, bagged the season MVP honors along with a gold medal on Board 2.

“Actually wala po talaga sa isip ko yung MVP even yung sa board medals. Yung inisip lang po talaga namin, as long as mag-champion yung team okay na po yun so parang laking blessing na po yung MVP. Kaya hindi ko po ini-expect na makuha ko yung title na ito,” said Tan.

“That’s why parang bonus siya sa akin and I feel very thankful kasi dumating siya sa akin na hindi ko naman talaga siya ineexpect. It means a lot to me din baka ito yung reward ng pagsisikap ko, yung hard work ko,” she added.

FEU’s other gold medalist was Board 3’s Woman NM Mhage Sebastian, who also pocketed the Rookie of the Year award.