MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights ousted Negros Kingsmen in the two-leg Southern Division semifinals of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines All-Filipino Conference, Season 2 on Saturday night.
The Kisela Knights kicked off the two-leg series with a 13-8 beating of the Kingsmen before following it up with a 14.5-6.5 domination in the second leg.
During the first leg, the Kisela Knights barely escaped the Kingsmen in blitz, 4-3, with only Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 1), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3), Cesar Mariano (Board 4) and John Michael Silvederio (Board 6) scoring wins.
Iloilo turned back Negros in the rapid event, 9-5, with Mariano, Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 5) and Silvederio with full two points and Antonio, Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2) and Mejia with splits.
Iloilo had a much better showing in blitz in the second leg, 6.5-0.5, with Ochoa, Mejia, Mariano, Rolly Parondo Jr. (Board 5), Silvederio and Porras (Board 7) scoring wins and Antonio splitting.
The Kisela Knights had a squeaker over Kingsmen in rapid game, 8-6, behind Mejia, Antonio and Silvederio’s two pointers and splits from Mariano and Porras.
“We really expected this tough match against Negros,” said Kisela Knights head coach Hubert Canto. “They have a very stacked lineup that can compete with anybody.”
“Good thing we prepared hard for this one but still turned out to be a tightly-contested match. We are just fortunate to come out on top of our series,” he added.
The Kisela Knights now advances to Southern Division finals on Wednesday against Davao, which also defeated its division semifinals opponent in Toledo Trojans.
“We were able to defeat Davao during our two encounters this season but this is a different game now. There’s already something at stake so we will prepare well anew,” Canto said./PN
