National University saved its best for last as it routed Ateneo, 4-0, and overtook Far Eastern University to claim its second straight title in the Girls’ Division of the UAAP Season 82 Chess Tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Sunday.
Allaney Jia Doroy, Jesca Docena, Vic Glysen Derotas, and Natasja Jasmine Ballabo delivered the victories across the board to turn a half-point deficit in the ninth and penultimate round into the Lady Bullpups’ second crown in a row after finishing with 30.5 points.
The Baby Lady Tamaraws, who led most of the tournament and NU by half a point entering the last round, managed just a 2.5-1.5 win over the Adamson Junior Lady Falcons and settled for second place with 29.5 points.
It was a sweet triumph for NU, the champion in last year’s maiden UAAP high school girls’ section, as it trailed in the first nine rounds before clawing its way back to snatch the title.
The critical win came in the ninth and penultimate round when NU trounced FEU, 2.5-1.5.
“It was a special effort because it is only in the last round when we took the lead,” said NU coach Jojo Aquino.
Doroy, who played her final season along with Docena and Derotas, put an icing on the cake by emerging the gold medalist on board one and the Most Valuable Player award after scoring 8.5 points out of 10 games.
In the boy’s section, University of the East dumped La Salle-Zobel, 3-1, to run away with its first title since claiming a five-peat feat 13 years ago.
National University smashed Adamson, 3.5-1.5, to end up second with 33 points, while FEU, last year’s titlist which bested University of Santo Tomas, 3-1, ended up at third with 29.5 points.
Tournament sensation Lee Roi Palma was the anchor behind UE’s success as he scored an impressive 10.5 points out of the possible 11 to claim not only the top board gold medal but also the MVP trophy as well.
UE also won the golds on boards three and four courtesy of Francis Roi Parro and John Kenneth Gelua, respectively.
Other boys’ board gold medal winners were FEU’s Jarvey Labanda on board two, UST’s Emcel Jules Gadut and Karlycris Clarito, Jr. on boards five and six while the other women’s gold medalists were UST’s Francois Marie Magpily on board two, Adamson’s Queenie Mae Samarita, Robelle de Jesus, and Naomi Gwyne Ramos on boards three, four and six, and FEU’s Me Ann Joy Baclayon on board five.
