MANILA – The Negros Kingsmen underwent a massive roster overhaul ahead of the 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championship, which started on Wednesday.
According to Kingsmen co-team owner Antonio Martin Olendo, they secured FIDE Master (FM) Mari Joseph Turqueza’s services via trade with the Rizal Batch Tower in exchange for Bacolodnon Joel Pimentel.
“We were saddened with the departure of Joel, but we are excited to have Turqueza on board. He is a former Philippine Olympiad player, and his experience is a great plus to the Kingsmen,” said Olendo.
The Kingsmen also added female players in its roster with former Zamboanga Sultans player National Master Jenny Mayor, La Carlota City’s Theseus Benitez, and Sagay’s Angeline Biñan.
“The team is fortunate that Jenny is available after being put on restricted free agent by Zamboanga. While we were also get a couple of players through the Negros-wide tryout,” Olendo added.
Returning for the Kingsmen were FM Nelson Mariano III, FM Randy Segarra, AGM Rowelyn Joy Acedo, NM Rolzon Roullo, Adrian dela Cruz, Reynaldo Flores, and Junaico Segismar.
“The team will definitely go all out in the upcoming conference. It is the last this season, and we want to be on the podium,” said Carlo Fontelo of the Kingsmen management. “Also, there will be foreign teams joining, so it is an exciting conference.”
During the First Conference and the Wesley So Cup, the Kingsmen failed to have a podium finish after being ousted several times in the Southern Division playoffs./PN
