The Dasma Cavite Spartans outplayed Mindoro Tamaraws in the ongoing Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Season 4 first conference tournament last Saturday, April 13, 2024 being held through Chess.com Platform.
Gunning for another strong finish before the playoffs begin, the Cavite Spartans had a statement by decimating Mindoro Tamaraws, 16.5-4.5.
The Cavite Spartans capped off its huge start with a 6.5-0.5 score in the blitz category courtesy of impressive performances from Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (in photo above), Kevin Arquero, FIDE Master Carlos Edgardo Garma, Melizah Ruth Carreon, National Master Carlo Magno Rosaupan and Alfredo Rapanot.
Arquero bested Ryan Agbunag in Board 1, Garma toppled Richard Allen Sicangco in Board 2, Carreon crushed Cylliz Kaessa Merilles in board 3, Antonio subdued Cesar Cunanan in Board 4, Rosaupan defeated Jeffrey Pascua in Board 5 and Rapanot dealt Alvin dela Cruz in Board 7.
Mindoro’s only score came when Ronald Berdera forced a draw against Cavite’s Kevin Mirano in Board 6.
The Cavite Spartans also dismantled Mindoro Tamaraws in the rapid, 10-4, with two pointers each from Arquero, Garma, Antonio, Rosaupan, and Rapanot.
“GM Joey Antonio, FM Carlos Edgardo Garma, NM Carlo Magno Rosaupan, Kevin Arquero, Alfredo Rapanot and Melizah Ruth Carreon played very well and won the match,” said coach Benjie Bercadez.
However, Cavite suffered a close 9-12 defeat to Davao Chess Eagles in the second game.
The Dasma Cavite Spartans improved to 152 points built from a 8-2 win-loss record and is still the second-best team in the Northern division behind front runner San Juan Predators with 9-1 slate and with 147.5 points.
At third place is Manila Load Manna Knights with 8-2 slate and with 145.5 points followed by fourth place Pasig City King Pirates with 8-2 slate and with 143 points.
San Juan wiped out Iloilo Kisela Knights, 15-5-5.5, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 20-1, Manila trounced Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 15.5-5.5, and Arriba Iriga, 20.5-0.5., while Pasig clobbered Toledo-Xignex Trojans, 14.5-6.5, and Iloilo Kisela Knights, 11-10.
Toledo-Xignex Trojans, meanwhile, bounced back, beating Olongapo Rainbow Team 07, 16-5-4.5, to show the way in the Southern division.
Toledo had 8-2 win-loss record and with 141 points followed by Camarines Soaring Eagles with similar 8-2 win-loss record and with 130 points.
PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay league, is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria, Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and Treasurer Atty. Arnel Batungbakal.-Marlon Bernardino-