Surigao enters PCAP quarters with win over Iriga
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Mar 2022
MANILA---Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates formalized its entry to the 2nd season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All Filipino Conference online chess tournament quarterfinals after edging Iriga City Oragons, 11.5-9.5, virtually held at Chess.com Platform Wednesday night, March 23, 2022.
Backed up by congressman Ace Barbers and team manager Engr. Dodjie, the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates finished the Southern Division elimination round with 21 wins and 13 defeats and has secured a sure ticket to the conference's quarterfinals.
"The win in the last round of the eliminations to get the projected perfect last 3 rounds were attributed to the dominance of Mariel Batulan-Romero in Board 3, the wins of Alfred Rapanot versus NM Kevin Mirano in Board 2; FM Vince Alaan’s win in rapid versus NM Onofre Espiritu and NM Cyril Ortega’s at Seniors category,"said team owner playing coach Arena Grandmaster Rey C. Urbiztondo.
"Our Top 5 spot in the South is an achievement against more stronger teams. We calculated our last 3 games versus our rivals Camarines and Toledo then. We were able to hit the prediction that we will beat them. Because in the last 3 rounds, both of them will have to met Davao, while no longer for us. Thus, they all lost to Davao and we made perfect in the last 3 games," he added.
"The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, one of only 4 teams from Mindanao, a pioneer in PCAP and only team from Mindanao in the last 3rd conferences of the first season when Zamboanga took a leave of absence," last word of Urbiztondo.
It was a slow start for the Fianchetto Checkmates against Iriga after ending the first seven playing boards in tie ,3-5-3.5, in the blitz game.
The Fianchetto Checkmates also had a close 8-6 triumph against Iriga in rapid event with two-pointers from Alfredo Rapanot (Board 2), Mariel Batulan-Romero (Board 3), National Master Cyril Ortega (4) and Fide Master Vince Alaan (Board 5).
Rapanot smashed Kevin Mirano, Batulan-Romero nipped Isabel Palibino, Ortega crushed Roger Pesimo and Alaan toppled National Master Onofre Espiritu.
National Master Glennen Artuz, Emil Valeza and Joeven Polsotin carried the good fight for Iriga after beating Lennon Hart Salgados (Board 1), Rhez Rheann Auza (Board 6) and Cyrus Donasco (Board 7), respectively.-Marlon Bernardino-
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