by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—The Quezon City Simba’s Tribe posted a 12-9 victory at the expense of the Pasig City King Pirates on Saturday night, February 5, 2022 in the 2nd season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All Filipino Conference online chess tournament at Chess.com Platform.
The Simba’s Tribe defeated the King Pirates in blitz on wins by National Master Robert Arellano, National Master Edgardo Garma and team owner-playing coach Danilo Ponay against GM Mark Paragua, GM Darwin Laylo and National Master Rudy Ibanez, respectively.
National Master Robert Suelo Jr. split the point with National Master Eric Labog Jr. while Freddie Talaboc drew with IM Chris Ramayrat.
Woman FM Sherily Cu and Kevin Arquero provided the twin wins for the Mayor Vico Sotto backed Pasig City King Pirates after beating MIchaela Concio and Joseph Navarro.
The team continued their winning streak against the King Pirates as they dominated the rapid play behind Ponay, Suelo, Navarro and Talaboc.
Ponay toppled Ibanez, Suelo nipped Labog, Navarro dealt Arquero and Talaboc outplayed Ramayrat.
Paragua, Laylo and Cua fought very well for the King Pirates after smashing Arellano, Garma and Concio.
“It was a huge win for us,” said Ponay, a 12- times Philippine National Bank (PNB) champion. We’re hoping we could carry the momentum”, he added.
Backed up by Global Quality Education Providers, Inc., Gates Professional Schools, Inc.,and DVF Dairy Farm Inc., the Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, earlier bested Rizal Batch Towers, 11.5-9.5.
The Simba’s Tribe climbed to fourth spot with a 4-4 win-loss record in the Northern Division standings together with Manila Indios Bravos and Isabela Knight of Alexander.
The Quezon City Simba’s Tribe look forward to another great performance Wednesday night (February 9, 2022) when they face Mindoro Tamaraws and Laguna Heroes.
PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as President-Commissioner; Michael Angelo Ong Chua as Chairman; Dr. Ariel Potot as Vice Chairman and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal as Treasurer.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr