De La Salle University stole the spotlight in Rounds 7 and 8 after notching back-to-back victories, including a rousing win over defending champion University of Santo Tomas, to reignite its championship hopes in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Chess Tournament, Sunday at the Adamson Gym.
La Salle, which opened the season with three straight losses, has now strung together three consecutive wins after defeating UST, 3–1, and archrival Ateneo de Manila University, 2.5–1.5, climbing to third place after spending much of the season in the bottom two of the standings.
The Taft-based squad improved to nine match points, closing in on frontrunners UST (12) and Far Eastern University (10) in the title race.
“Very overwhelming kasi zero out of three kami nung first three rounds eh. Tapos ngayon dito sa second half (ng season) maganda yung nilaro namin,” said coach Randy Segarra after La Salle took down two podium contenders in succeeding rounds.
“I applaud the kids. Talagang andun yung puso eh, binigay nila. So now we’re back in the game. Hopefully, matuloy-tuloy at ma-sustain namin ‘to.”
In Round 8, Angele Biete (2.5/7) emerged as the hero for the Green Woodpushers after converting a rook-and-knight-versus-rook endgame into a win against Ateneo’s Eowyn Jullado (1/5) on the top board.
Cyril Telesforo (5/8) also delivered crucial wins in consecutive rounds on Board 3, highlighted by a 37-move conquest of Arena FIDE Master Ritchie Abeleda (4/8) in Round 8, spearheading La Salle’s fightback in the second half of the season.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, four-peat-seeking University of Santo Tomas bounced back from its Round 7 setback to La Salle with a dominant 4–0 sweep of Adamson University in Round 8 to maintain its hold on the top spot.
FIDE Master Mark Daluz (5/8) recovered from consecutive losses by defeating John Rocel Simon (2.5/6) on Board 1, while Chester Reyes (6/8) and Lee Roi Palma (6/8) tallied their sixth points with wins on Board 2 and 3, respectively, against Joshua Roque (3/8) and Robert Palisoc (1/7).
On the distaff side, De La Salle solidified its grip on the top spot by edging Ateneo, 2.5–1.5, in Round 9 before taking a bye in Round 10 to climb to 15 match points.
In Round 9, Woman National Master Francois Magpily (5/8) delivered a rook fork to win a queen against Ateneo’s Jiessel Marino (3.5/8) on Board 1.
On Board 2, Juzeia Agne (3/4) foiled Ma. Elayza Villa’s (4/8) attack to go up a piece and convert a comfortable endgame position to a win after 49 moves. Meanwhile, Rinoa Sadey’s (6/8) draw on Board 3 secured the victory for the Lady Woodpushers.
National University kept pace with the Taft-based squad after holding defending champion Far Eastern University to a 2–2 draw in Round 10, boosting its tally to 14 match points.
Jersey Marticio (6.5/8) bagged a win on Board 2, while Woman FIDE Master Allaney Doroy (7.5/8) and Kyla Dalagan (3/5) settled for draws on Board 1 and Board 3, respectively, fending off the surging Lady Tamaraws, who currently sit third with 12 match points.
In the other men’s division match, Far Eastern University followed up a Round 7 draw with Ateneo by scoring a commanding 3–1 victory over the University of the Philippines in Round 8 to remain in second with 12 match points.
Franklin Andes’ (3.5/5) back-to-back wins on Board 4 helped the Morayta-based squad stay within striking distance of the defending champions.
