National University Nazareth School inched closer to the UAAP Season 88 Girls’ Chess crown after a commanding 4–0 sweep of Ateneo High School in the penultimate round, Saturday at the Adamson Gym.
With the Jhocson-based squad now needing only a draw in the final round to secure the championship, NUNS head coach Roel Abelgas said the team plans to play it safe in hopes of reclaiming the crown they last won in Season 82.
“Maka 2-2 lang kami sa UST, okay na. Ganun lang yung plano namin. Tao-tao lang. Kung may chance makatabla, edi tabla lang muna. Kasi team effort naman eh para mag-champion yung team,” he said, as NUNS hiked its total to 14 match points.
With three default wins due to Ateneo no-shows, the Lady Bullpups quickly built a 3–0 lead.
Kayla Aurelio (7/9) was the lone NUNS player to go over the board, completing the sweep with a checkmate in 57 moves against Ateneo’s Katina Lim (0/9) on Board 3.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas, which trails NUNS in second place with 12 match points, overwhelmed Adamson University, 3.5–0.5, to gain momentum heading into its championship clash against NUNS.
Trina Temple (6/7), Angel Po (6.5/7), and Iana Sotaridona (5.5/7) secured victories for the España-based squad as they toppled Mikhaela Salvo (3/5), Antonett Atienza (0/7), and Elizah Bandejas (1.5/6), respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the boys’ division, Far Eastern University – Diliman kept its title-retention hopes alive after a commanding 3.5–0.5 rout of De La Salle Zobel.
Gladimir Romero (5/7) preserved his unbeaten run on the top board by splitting the point with National Master Tyrhone Tabernilla (5/7).
Arena Candidate Master Joemel Narzabal (3.5/6), Ralz Devibar (3/3), and Quarl Vera Cruz (2/2) followed suit, defeating Santino Edralin (0/4), Gian Caguiat (0/5), and Collin Chiong (2/6), respectively.
The Baby Tamaraws, now with 11 match points, must defeat Ateneo by a wide margin in the final round and hope UST, which took a bye in Round 9, suffers a heavy loss to De La Salle Zobel to successfully defend their crown.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Their counterparts in the girls’ division replicated La Salle’s mastery with a 3–1 demolition to secure a podium finish.
Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino (8/9) scored her eighth straight win on the top board to set the tone for the Diliman-based squad, while Franiel Magpily (3.5/6) and Ericka Ordizo (5/7) also bagged full points in their respective board assignments.
