San Juan, Pasig dispute PCAP North Division crown
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 Dec 2023
MANILA, Philippines – For the fourth straight North Division finals of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines, it will come down to the San Juan Predators and the Pasig City King Pirates.
During the semifinals on Saturday virtually held at Chess.com Platform, San Juan defeated the valiant Cavite Spartans in two sets, 11-10, and 13.5-7.5.
Pasig, under the watchful eye of coach Franco Camillo, on the other hand, beat Laguna-Philippine Executive Chess Association, in two sets, 12-9, and 14-7.
San Juan was blazing in the blitz event with WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda (Board 3), IM Paulo Bersamina (Board 5), Narquinden Reyes (Board 6) and Narquingel Reyes (Board 7) and a draw by IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia (Board 1) and Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2).
In the rapid event, the Cavite Spartans notched two-pointers each from GM Aleksey Sorokin (Board 2), WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego (Board 3), GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (Board 4) and Ricky Batcho (Board 6).
"It was a close match in the first set. We do our very best but naka una ang San Juan," said 13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. who carried the fight for Cavite after beating GM Viktor Moskalenko (San Juan), in two sets, blitz and rapid.
"Sa 2nd set maganda ipinamalas ng San Juan. Congratulations sa Team San Juan ni Chairman Michael Angelo Ong Chua," he added.
In the 2nd set, Ochoa, Garcia, Fronda, and Narquinden Reyes won their respective matches in blitz play while Bersamina contributed a draw.
In the Rapid play, Garcia, Fronda, Narquinden Reyes, and Bersamina notched two-pointers each while Narquingel Reyes split the point.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Kisela Knights had to go through an extra period or much known Armageddon tiebreak game to outlast Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates.
Iloilo bested Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 4-17, 11-10, and 2-1, to arrange a titular showdown in the Southern Division finals against Toledo-Xignex Trojans, who took down the resilient Davao Durianburg Stallions in two-straight matches, 15.5, 11.5-9.5.
PCAP, the country’s first play-for-pay league, is headed by PCAP President Atty. Paul Elauria, chairman Michael Angelo Ong Chua, PCAP treasurer Atty. Arnel Batungbakal and Technical Committee chairman Engr. Jojo Buenaventura and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land, Buenaviel and PCWorx and sanctioned by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Atty. Richard Clarin.-Marlon Bernardino-
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