MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen reached the Southern Division semifinals of the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wesley So Cup by ousting their quarterfinals foes on Wednesday night.
The defending champions Kisela Knights survived a tough challenge from Tacloban. They pulled off a 3-0 Armageddon win courtesy of Hovhannes Gabuzyan, Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Karl Victor Ochoa.
Prior to that, Iloilo took the first of the two-set quarterfinals, 20-1, courtesy of blitz and rapid game wins by Gabuzyan (Board 1), Ochoa (Board 2), Fiona Guirhem (Board 3), Antonio (Board 4), Rolly Parondo Jr. (Board 5), Fritz Porras (Board 6), and Cesar Mariano (Board 7).
Tacloban, however, bounced back in the second set as they cruised to a 13.5-7.5 victory, powered by their massive 11-3 rapid game stunner against the Kisela Knights to force the Armaggedon.
“It was a tough win for us,” exclaimed Kisela Knights head coach Hubert Canto. “We were pushed to the limit by Tacloban but good thing our veterans stepped up in the Armaggedon.”
The Kingsmen, on the other hand, barged to the next round of competition following a two-set quarterfinals victory against Camarines-Iriga—17-4 in the first set (6-1 in blitz and 11-3 in rapid) and 15.5-5.5 in second leg (3.5-3.5 in blitz and 12-2 in rapid).
David Elorta (Board 1), Tran Tuan Minh (Board 2), Bernadette Galas (Board 3), Edmundo Gatus (Board 4), Ellan Asuela (Board 5) and Joel Pimentel (Board 6) played a vital role in Negros’ lopsided first set triumph over Camarines-Iriga.
In the second set, the Kingsmen faltered in blitz but managed to bounce back in the rapid game courtesy of two-pointers by Elorta, Tran, Galas, Gatus, Pimentel and Asuela to move on to the next round.
“It was a good start for our playoff drive but we will not be content with this. We hope to perform well in the upcoming playoffs legs,” said Kingsmen co-team manager Nayk Segismar.
The Kisela Knights will next face no. 4 Toledo Trojans in two-leg Southern Division semifinals, while the Kingsmen will tangle with no.3 Davao in the division Final Four this Saturday evening./PN
