by Marlon Bernardino.
MANILA, Philippines—Cavite Spartans scored back to back wins after beating Olongapo Rainbow Team 7, 13-8, in the seventh match of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) dubbed as Grandmaster Wesley So Cup Wednesday, May 26, 2021 on online tournament at the chess.com platform.
International Master Petronio “Rony” Roca defeated Rey Fallorina, 3-0, on board 4 in both blitz and rapid to lead the Cavite Spartans’ campaign against the Olongapo woodpushers.
“I have to train hard for this competition, give my best, and give a good show,” said Dasmariñas City, Cavite based Roca, who hails from Palo, Leyte, a former engineer at Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), who blasted import Ukrainian Grandmaster Victor Moskalenko of San Juan Predators, 3-0, last Saturday, May 22, 2021.
Also scoring for Cavite Spartans, backed by Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning Theo Panga, Rep. Jon-Jon Ferrer and Mayor Ony Ferrer are Jayson San Jose Visca, who blanked Glenn Hullana Garcia, 3-0, on board 6; and Renie Malupa, who routed Joel Villanueva, 3-0, on board 7.
Other notable winners for Cavite Spartans headed by General Trias City, Cavite Youth and Sports Head Ms. Lhen Muralla Kempiz, coach Ederwin Estavillo and assistant coach Israel Landicho are Stephen Von Estavillo against Muhammad Suhaib Azmi on board one (blitz) and Melizah Ruth Carreon against Angel Orijuela on board three (blitz).
Arena Grandmaster Voltaire Marc Paraguya, on the other hand beat National Master Gefer Imbuido in blitz but split the point in rapid on board 5.
Joshua Bautista of Olongapo, meantime subdued Lourecel Hernandez Ecot, 3-0, on board two.
Cavite Spartans took a 6-1 advantage after blitz play, but tied the match in the rapid format, 7-7.
Other members of the Cavite Spartans are Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. (Titled player), Edwin Lam Choong Wai (Import) Wagish Rai (Import), Ceferino “Jun” Isaac Jr. (Senior) and Lloyd Rubio (Homegrown), who earlier beat Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 13-8.
With the victory over Quezon City Simba’s Tribe and Olongapo Rainbow Team 7, the Cavite Spartans join Pasig City King Pirates in a two-way tie for seventh with an 3-4 slate in the Northern Division.
Based on the scoring system, a win in rapid chess is worth two points, a draw is one point and a loss is zero. Blitz chess result gives one point for a win, half point for a draw and zero for a loss.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra and supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., organized by PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Ong Chua, Vice-Chairman Ariel Potot, Founding President/Commisioner Atty. Paul Elauria and Treasurer Atty. Arnel Batungbakal.
Photo shows Filipino International Master Petronio Roca giving a simultaneous chess exhibition game in Muntinlupa City before the pandemic.