Far Eastern University regained its winning form as it waylaid Ateneo, 3-1, Sunday to hold a resurgent defending champion La Salle in the women’s race of the 82nd UAAP Chess Tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
After barely escaping with a 2-2 draw with University of Santo Tomas the day before, the Lady Tams summoned their old, dangerous selves with former national women’s champion Shania Mae Mendoza, Bea Mendoza, and Viona Nepascua posting victories on first, second, and fourth boards, respectively.
Ateneo’s Manilyn Cabungcag slammed Jennina Valdez on third board to stave off an embarrassing shutout.
FEU thus kept its grip of the lead with 12.5 points but its upper hand was cut to just half a point after La Salle blanked University of the East, 4-0, on wins by Marie Antoinette San Diego, Ella Grace Moulic, Samantha Glo Revita, and Franchell Eds Javier to hike its total to 12 points.
It was the third straight victory for the Lady Woodpushers after they were slowed down by a stunning 1.5-2.5 defeat to their archrivals Ateneo Lady Eagles in the opening round last week.
And La Salle has been showing signs it is not about to stop.
At joint third were Ateneo and UST, which clobbered National University, 3-1, with 9.5 points apiece.
In the only other game, Adamson edged University of the Philippines that was wrapped up by Abigail Tamundong’s 59-move win over Jallen Herzchelle Agra of a Caro-kann duel on board three as the rest drew their respective games.
