University of Santo Tomas moved just one match point away from clinching the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Chess title after holding defending champion Far Eastern University–Diliman to a 2–2 draw, Sunday at the Adamson Gym.
The España-based squad had earlier defeated Ateneo de Manila University, 3.5–0.5, in Round 7 before facing the Baby Tamaraws, improving its tally to 13 match points built on six wins and one draw.
The Junior Male Woodpushers now need just a draw in their final match to dethrone the reigning champions.
“Actually yung inaasahan pa nga namin na manalo, yung Board 4 namin, yun pa yung natalo. Pero malaki din naman tiwala namin dun sa tatlo. Good na rin na 2–2 (kami sa FEU). Last game namin yung La Salle, kahit maka 2–2 lang kami champion na,” shared UST coach Ronald Dableo.
Against the second-running Baby Tamaraws, rookie King Lanz Pamplona (2.5/5) delivered UST’s lone win on Board 2 after forcing Arena Candidate Master Joemel Narzabal (2.5/5) to resign by the 38th move following an unstoppable mating attack.
Arena International Master Gabriel Paradero (5/7) and John Borce (4/5) then split the points with FEU-D’s Gladimir Romero (4.5/6) and King Beltran (3.5/5) on Boards 1 and 3, respectively.
Meanwhile, Jian Carlo Rivera (4.5/6) suffered UST’s lone loss after bowing to Lance Orlina in a 60-move rook endgame on Board 4.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the girls’ division, National University Nazareth School recorded mixed results in Rounds 7 and 8 but held on to the top spot, inching closer to reclaiming the championship trophy it last won in Season 82.
The Jhocson-based squad asserted its mastery over defending champion FEU-D in Round 7, 2.5–1.5, but faltered at the hands of Adamson University, 3–1, in Round 8.
NUNS standout Sarah Dalagan (6.5/8), who opened the season with six straight wins, fell to Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino (7/8) before bouncing back with a draw against Florence Isabedra (2.5/7) on the top board.
Arena FIDE Master Yaneah Morada (5/6) remained a pillar of consistency for the Junior Lady Bulldogs, staying unbeaten in six matches with consecutive draws in Rounds 7 and 8.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, UST continued its late-season surge in the girls’ division with a hard-fought 2.5–1.5 win over FEU-D, who now sit third with 10 match points.
The victory followed a 4–0 demolition of De La Salle Zobel in the previous round, lifting UST to 12 match points heading into the final two rounds.
Trina Temple (5/6) and Iana Sotaridona (4.5/6) set the tone for the Junior Female Woodpushers, each scoring two crucial points in that stretch.
Adamson University also moved within a match win of securing a podium finish in the boys’ division after dominating De La Salle Zobel, 3–1, in Round 7.
