MANILA – Iloilo Kisela Knights and Negros Kingsmen reached the Southern Division semifinals of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) first conference after sweeping their quarterfinals foes on Wednesday night.
The Knights easily defeated Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors in the two-set quarterfinals match – 14-7 in the first set (4-3 in blitz and 10-4 in rapid) and 15.5-5.5 in their second set (4.5-2.5 in blitz and 11-3 in rapid).
Grand Master Joey Antonio, National Master John Michael Silvederio, Mark Jossel Mariano, Lloyd Lanciola, Karl Viktor Ochoa, Cesar Mariano, and Fritz Bryan Porras played a key role in Kisela Knights’ first-set win over Dagami Warriors.
Antonio, Porras, Lanciola, Ochoa, Silvederio, and Cesar Mariano, meanwhile, carried the fight for Kisela Knights in the blitz and rapid event of their quarterfinals second-set match with Dagami Warriors.
The Knights will face Toledo Trojans next in the two-set Southern Division semifinals on Saturday. The Trojans reached the next round with a two-set beating of Zamboanga Sultans.
“Team Iloilo will revisit our initial strategies against team Toledo to make sure all holes been covered going into the semi-final this coming Saturday,” said Iloilo team owner Leo Sotaridona.
The Kingsmen, on the other hand, barged to the next round of the competition after a two-set quarterfinals victory against Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors – 14-7 in the first set (4-3 in blitz and 10-4 in rapid) and 13.5-7.5 in second leg (5.5-1.5 in blitz and 8-6 in rapid).
Joel Pimentel, Randy Segarra, Adrian dela Cruz, Kajoy Acedo, Rosendo Bandal, and Rolzon Roullo played an important role in Kingsmen’s first-set triumph over Naki Warriors.
In the second leg of the quarterfinals match against Lapu-Lapu, Acedo, Bandal, Pimentel, Segarra, Nayk Segismar, and Nelson Mariano scored victories for Negros in the blitz and rapid events.
“Another outstanding performance from the players, so proud of them as always. But we need to keep our focus in the semifinals [against Camarines Soaring Eagle],” said Kingsmen co-team owner Carlo Fontelo./PN
