Defending Champion Laguna Heroes opened up the 2nd season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All Filipino Conference online chess tournament with a dominating victory against the Olongapo Rainbow Team 7, 18-3, and another amazing performance against the Manila Indios Bravos, 12,-9, virtually held at Chess.com Platform on Saturday.
"We are hoping to perform better in the 2nd part of the same-division round. Our twin wins tonight against Olongapo and Manila are great motivations for our upcoming matches!" said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Fred Paez, one of the four co-team owner of the Laguna Heroes that include Mr. David Nithyananthan of KALARO, Engr. Benjamin Dy of SDC Global Choice and Engr. Jonathan Mamaril of Oregon, USA.
The Heroes showed no mercy against Olongapo and embarrassed their competition from the get-go with Laguna immediately grabbing the 5-2 lead in the blitz category.
Olongapo’s struggles continued in the last seven playing boards in the rapid encounter as Laguna played with the same intensity as they did in the blitz category, notching six wins on their way to a convincing opening win.
Laguna had a convincing start against Manila as they immediately led 5-2 in the Blitz category on wins by two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr., Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez , 8-time Illinois USA Champion International Master Angelo Young and Apollo Agapay.
Barcenilla defeated Jerry Areque, Literatus crushed National Master Rolando Andador, Enriquez nipped Woman National Master Mira Mirano, Young subdued Dr. Jenny Mayor and Agapay trounced Jhulo Goloran.
International Master Ronald Dableo and International Master Chito Garma provided the twin wins of Manila after beating Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo and Vince Angelo Medina, respectively.
The game between Laguna and Manila ended into a 7-all deadlock in the rapid play.
The Pasig City King Pirates remain on top of the northern division standings with a 24-1 (win-loss) slate followed by San Juan Predators (21-4) at second and the Laguna Heroes (20-5) at third.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Kisela Knights (23-2) tops the southern division standings while Davao Chess Eagles is at second (20-5) and Zamboanga Sultans (18-7) at third.
The Laguna Heroes backed up by KALARO, Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali will face Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 and Manila Indios Bravos on Wednesday.
Photo shows two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr. (photo credit to Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. fb account).
Photo shows Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus (photo credit to Austin Jacob Literatus fb account).