MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights reached the finals of the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference by beating Davao in the Southern Division finals on Wednesday night.
The Kisela Knights escaped with a 12-9 triumph over Davao in the first leg of the division finals before following it up with 17-4 annihilation in the second leg to make a return trip to the finals.
Iloilo surrendering a 3-4 loss in the first leg blitz with Rolly Parondo Jr. (Board 7) as the sole winner and Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 1), Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2), Cherry Ann Mejia (Board 3) and Cesar Mariano (Board 4) settling for draw.
Iloilo bounced back in rapid game with a 9-5 victory over Davao courtesy of two pointers by Ochoa, Mariano, Fritz Bryan Porras (Board 6) and Parondo and a split from Antonio.
Able to regroup, the Kisela Knights pounded Davao in second leg blitz game, 5-2, on wins by Antonio, Ochoa, Mariano and John Michael Silvederio (Board 7) and a draw by Mejia.
The Kisela Knights then hacked out a 12-2 triumph in the second leg rapid game with two-pointers from Antonio, Ochoa, Mejia, Mariano, Parondo and Silvederio.
“It was a hard earned victory for us. Davao was a tough opponent,” Kisela Knights head coach Hubert Canto said. “Credit to our veterans for their strong showing.”
The Kisela Knights is set to face Northern Division champions San Juan Predators in a two-leg championship round on Saturday night. Predators reached the finals after stunning Pasig.
This will be the third consecutive championship encounter between Iloilo and San Juan with the Kisela Knights ruling the 2021 PCAP Wesley So Cup and Predators bouncing back in the 2021 PCAP Third Conference.
“We have to be wary of San Juan,” Canto said. “Even if we beaten then during the regular season, they might surprise us, just like what they did against Pasig.”/PN
