MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights emerged as champions in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) GM Wesley So Cup after ousting San Juan Predators in the finals on Wednesday night.
The Kisela Knights opened the two-leg championship round with a 13-8 victory over the Predators and followed it up with an 11.5-9.5 second-leg triumph for its first-ever PCAP crown.
“It was a total team effort from start to finish. The team’s hardwork did pay off, especially here in the finals,” Kisela Knights team owner Leo Sotaridona said. “Hope we got more success as the team continues to improve individually and as a team.”
The Kisela Knights have a slow start in the first leg’s blitz game with only Hovhannes Gabuzyan winning and Cesar and John Michael Silvederio settling for draws.
However, the Iloilo City-based squad bounced back and dominated the rapid play on wins by Rogelio Antonio Jr., Cherry Ann Mejia, Fritz Bryan Porras, and John Michael Silvederio. Gabuzyan, Mariano, and Dennis Bernas settled for a draw.
Iloilo also edged the Predators in the second leg blitz game behind triumphs by Gabuzyan, Mariano, Silvederio, and Porras, while Karl Victor Ochoa was held to a draw. In the rapid category, only Gabuzyan, Mejia, and Bernas nailed two-pointers each.
Mariano’s draw with San Juan’s Ricardo de Guzman was the title clincher for the Kisela Knight as the match could have been stretched to a do-or-die Armageddon or tiebreak game if the latter won.
“Preparation and conditioning ‘yung naging key namin the entire conference,” said Kisela Knights mentor Hyubs Canto. “We trained hard our homegrown players and nagbunga naman because we won it all.”
The Kisela Knights advanced to the finals after thrashing Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors in the Southern Division finals, while the Predators prevailed over Laguna Heroes in the Northern Division finale./PN
