Surigao makes PCAP’s play-off

MISSING the playoff round last conference, the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates could not be denied this time around.

The Congressman Robert Barbers-backed Checkmaters pulled up a thrilling 11.5-9.5 victory over the Iriga City Oragons on Wednesday night to make it to the quarterfinals of the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines All-Filipino Conference with a 21-13 win-loss ledger.

Targetting the last 6th spot in the quarterfinals round of the online chess team tourney, the Checkmaters were even rewarded with the No.5 seat after the second-running Davao Eagles crushed Toledo Trojans, 16-5 to compensate for the narrow loss of the other Mindanao team Cagayan de Oro Higalas at the hands of the Camarines Soaring Eagles, 10-11.

The Iloilo Kisela Knights, who trounced Tacloban, 13-8, topped the Southern division with a total of 30 wins against 4 losses, well ahead of Davao Eagles (27-7) and third-running Zamboanga Sultans, who manhandled Cebu, 17.5-3.5 to improve at 25-9.

“Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo owes us something special after the elimination round. Pa-isnakon gyod ‘mi niya ani’g burger,” joked Davao team manager Engr. Allan Diez cites the delighted Surigao chess team-playing coach and owner Urbiztondo, who was also recently conferred with the Honorary National Master title by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Despite their one-point setback to Camarines, the CMOCA Higalas are somewhat put in a favorable situation as they will face instead of the all-female Palawan Queen’s Gambit team in the play-in knockout with a twice-to-beat advantage to complete one of the two slots needed in the final top-eight quarterfinals cast.

“We have the edge kay kaduha ‘mi nila peldihon, though I think kaya namo ang mga female masters sa Palawan team,” said Jaime Joshua Frias II of CMOCA Higalas.

In their crucial match against Iriga, the Surigao team was held to a draw in blitz when the Oragon foursome of National Masters Kevin Mirano and Onofre Espiritu Jr and Fr Emil Valeza and Roger Pesimo matched the 3.5 efforts produced by Lennon Hart Salgados, Mariel Batulan Romero, Cyrus Donasco, and NM Cyril Ortega.

The Surigao chessers, also supported by Engr. Dodjie Morales as team manager got threatened in rapid play when NM Glennen Artuz avenged his early loss on board one to Salgados and the pair of Fr. Valeza and Joeven Polsotin triumphed over Donasco and Rhenz Auza on boards 6 and 7, respectively.

But Alfred Rapanot, Romero, Ortega, and Fide Master Vince Alaan made a sweeping finish on board 2 down to 5 opposite Mirano, Isabel Palibino, Pesimo, and Espiritu to give Surigao the 2-point edge from rapid, 8-6.

“Our projected goal to win our last three matches in order to overtake higher-ranked rivals such as Toledo and Camarines was fulfilled when both of them lost, in return, to Davao. But our last game was pressure-packed with one of our key players unable to play due to family concern,” said Urbiztondo, referring to the newly-wed Antonio Chavez Jr.

Urbiztondo also acknowledged the dominance of lady player Romero on board 3 as one important recipe for Surigao’s early success.

The Checkmaters will face the stacked Negros Kingsmen in the quarterfinals.

Bannered by the FM tandem of David Alorta and Randy Segarra, the Kingsmen occupy the fourth-place at 22-12 or just a point ahead of Surigao to be installed as the slight favorite.

“They’re stronger than us, but we managed to beat them (Negros) twice in the eliminations,” Urbiztondo told Gold Star Daily.

And not only that.

The Surigao team also scored a twin-upset versus the Wesley So Cup winner Iloilo of 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr which virtually makes them one of the most feared underdog squads in the PCAP All-Filipino Conference.