University of Santo Tomas completed a three-peat and secured its 10th title overall after going undefeated in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Chess Championship on Sunday at the FEU Tech Gym.
Led by seasoned players, the championship seemed theirs to lose. However, for UST head coach Ronald Dableo, it all boiled down to the fundamentals of the game.
They finished with 18 match points, consisting of eight wins and two draws.
“Practice talaga. Kailangan kong praktisin. Although lahat naman sila mga kilalang player na ‘yan. Magagaling na rin talaga. Sobrang daling i-organize tapos disiplina lang. For the team lagi, kasi iba ‘yung team sa individual eh,” said the Grand Master-elect.
It wasn’t as smooth sailing as it should have been for the powerhouse team, though. After putting together four straight wins to open the season, disaster struck in Round 4 when they settled for a draw with cellar-dwelling Adamson University.
“Hindi ko inexpect ‘yung nangyari kasi gusto kong bigyan ng chance din ‘yung mga nasa ilalim namin, si Daluz saka si Brylle. Siguro nakakapagtataka bakit ‘yung team captain mo andun sa Board 5 eh ‘yan ang lumabas sa ranking nila eh. Nung binigyan ko ng chance sa Adamson, ‘di ko inexpect na magkaganun. ‘Yung parang matuto kami sa Adamson, ‘di ko inexpect,” he added.
Adamson went on to finish winless this season, with its only point coming from the draw with UST.
Ateneo de Manila University finished second, marking its first podium finish in more than a decade. Meanwhile, last season’s runner-up University of the Philippines settled for third in Season 86.
Melito Ocsan Jr. secured the tournament MVP after leading UST with a gold medal on Board 2, courtesy of eight wins and two losses.
“Sobrang laking achievement kasi supposedly ito na ‘yung parang feel kong last season ko na. Hindi ko naman po inexpect na magpeperform ako nang maganda ngayong season kasi ang daming struggles nung bago mag-UAAP. Nagthesis ako tapos nag-OJT. Ang hirap pagsabayin pero buti nagperform kami,” he said.
Four other members of the UST squad took home a medal each in their board assignments, led by Season 86 Rookie of the Year and National Master Chester Reyes (Board 3 gold medalist), FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz (Board 1 bronze medalist), Julius Gonzales (Board 4 gold medalist), and Carl Daluz (Board 6 bronze medalist).
In ending Ateneo’s podium drought, it was Paul Matthew Llanilo’s impeccable performance that buoyed the Katipunan-based squad after taking the gold medal on the top board, with Janmyl Tisado also securing a gold medal on Board 5.
Ateneo’s Christopher Kis-ing and Tristan Cervero also finished with silver medals on boards 3 and 4, respectively.
Meanwhile, UP’s FIDE Master Stephen Pangilinan, the Season 85 co-MVP, finished with a silver medal on Board 1 to lead the Fighting Maroon’s third-place finish.
Michael Olladas also brought home a silver medal for UP on Board 5.
Far Eastern University, which finished fourth overall, did not go home empty-handed as FIDE Master Jeth Romy Morado secured a bronze on Board 2, Rookie National Master Christian Olaybal with a silver on Board 3, and John Kenneth Gelua with a gold on Board 6.
Despite De La Salle University ending its season at the fifth spot, National Master Cyrus Telesforo still went home with a silver medal on Board 2.
Fellow Green Woodpushers Kris Oswald Olvido and Francis Guimalan also went home with bronze medals on Boards 4 and 5, respectively.
Adamson University’s only bright spot this season was John Frederick Sunga, who clinched the Board 5 silver medal.
