Far Eastern University completed a commanding run in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate and High School Blitz Chess Championships on Sunday at the Adamson Gym, capturing three of the four available titles in a historic breakthrough for the program.
The Morayta-based FEU and its Diliman counterpart dominated across divisions, with FEU ruling the women’s collegiate division while FEU-Diliman swept both the boys’ and girls’ crowns in the high school category.
FEU head coach and Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales could only express pride as the program etched its name in UAAP history.
“We’re just so happy to be part of history. First time kasi na maging regular sport ang blitz sa UAAP and FEU ang nakakuha ng tatlo out of four division titles. That’s history and quite an achievement para sa school and sa players,” said Gonzales.
FEU opened its three-title haul with a composed and resilient campaign in the women’s division, overcoming a stacked field led by De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University.
The Lady Tamaraws first battled Ateneo in a tightly contested semifinal series, 2-2, 2.5-1.5, 2.5-1.5, before setting up a finals showdown with La Salle.
Against the Lady Woodpushers, FEU found itself locked in back-to-back 2-2 draws to open the championship series before finally breaking through in Round 3, where Woman National Master Vic Glysen Derotas delivered a pivotal win on Board 2 to spark a 3-1 victory. The Lady Tamaraws then carried that momentum into Round 4, sealing the crown with another 3-1 triumph.
Derotas was later crowned Most Valuable Player after finishing with a gold medal on Board 3.
“It feels really nice na maexperience na mag-MVP kasi this is my first MVP as well. And to me, na magkaroon ng special award, hindi lang siya individual medal, is something to be proud of. It feels really nice. It feels really great,” she said.
FEU also drew steady support throughout the campaign from Woman FIDE Master Francesca Largo (Board 1), Woman National Master Mhage Sebastian (Board 4), and Kate Ordizo (Board 5), all of whom earned silver medals. Samantha Umayan added a gold medal on Board 6, while April Joy Carlos secured bronze on Board 2.
De La Salle University settled for runner-up honors, banking on Checy Aliena Telesforo’s gold medal performance on Board 4, along with silver finishes from Juezia Agne (Board 2) and Heart Padilla (Board 3).
Ateneo de Manila University completed the podium after edging National University, 2.5-1.5, 3.5-0.5, 1.5-2.5, 3-1, in their playoff series. Maria Elayza Villa (Board 1) delivered a bronze medal, while Kristine Flores added a silver on Board 6.
National University also produced standout performances despite missing the podium, with Woman FIDE Master Allaney Doroy (Board 1) and Jersey Marticio (Board 2) each claiming gold medals.
University of Santo Tomas also made its presence felt, highlighted by Rohanisah Buto’s gold medal finish on Board 5.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
If FEU set the tone in the collegiate level, FEU-Diliman elevated it further in the high school division, completing a redemption arc with a dominant girls’ campaign led by national team mainstay and Woman International Master Ruelle Canino.
Canino captured MVP honors along with a gold medal on Board 1 after anchoring the Baby Lady Tamaraws’ run from start to finish.
“Very fulfilling kasi po natupad ko yung sinabi kong babawi kami. It’s very special kasi last season ko na sa high school and lahat ng teammates ko nagcontribute. Lahat po kami nag-effort,” said Canino.
The FEU-D squad dominated Adamson University in the semifinals, scoring back-to-back 4-0 sweeps in Rounds 1 and 2 before clinching a finals berth with a 2.5-1.5 result in Round 3 against National University Nazareth School. In the finals, they needed just three rounds to secure the inaugural blitz crown with 3-1, 3.5-0.5, 3-1 victories.
FEU-D’s medal haul in the girls’ division was rounded out by LJ Getubig, who topped Board 5 and was named Rookie of the Year, Ericka Ordizo (Board 2) with a gold medal, Lyn Getubig (Board 3) with silver, and Franiel Magpily (Board 4) and Ann Beatrice Bombales (Board 6), who each took bronze medals.
National University Nazareth School finished runner-up with silver medals from Sara Dalagan (Board 1) and Kayla Aurelio (Board 4), and bronze medals from Arena FIDE Master Ryien Bahita (Board 2) and Joella Conjurado (Board 5).
University of Santo Tomas completed the podium after defeating Adamson University in the bronze medal match, 3-1, 3-1, 4-0, highlighted by gold medals from Trina Temple (Board 3) and Iana Sotaridona (Board 4), silver medals from Daren Dela Cruz (Board 2), Axienna Mortel (Board 5), and Katriel Guerrero (Board 6), and a bronze medal from Kara Meneses (Board 1).
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The final piece of FEU’s historic run came in the boys’ division, where FEU-Diliman completed a sweep of the high school titles behind rookie King Xyan Beltran.
Beltran led the Baby Tamaraws past top-seeded University of Santo Tomas in the finals, 3-1, 2-2, 2.5-1.5, going undefeated on Board 1 to claim MVP honors.
“Malaking bagay po ito sa akin (yung MVP) kasi first time ko lang mag-UAAP. Sulit po talaga yung binigay kong hard work and training,” said Beltran.
FEU-D also showcased its depth with Gladimir Romero (Board 3) delivering a gold medal, Arena Candidate Master Joemel Narzabal (Board 2) and Lance Orlina (Board 4) both earning silver medals, and Lord Yofiel Young named Rookie of the Year after a silver finish on Board 6.
University of Santo Tomas finished runner-up with a strong medal spread led by gold medals from Jian Carlo Rivera (Board 2), Glenn Dale Panuelos (Board 5), and John Adonairam (Board 6), a silver from King Lanz Pamplona (Board 1), and bronze medals from John Cyrus Borce (Board 3) and Arena International Master Gabriel Paradero (Board 4).
Adamson University completed the podium in the boys’ division, led by Karl Ashton Fratkin’s gold medal on Board 4, alongside silver medals from Allan Dolfo (Board 3) and Jian Bautista (Board 5), and a bronze medal from Charles Candor (Board 6).
