Unstoppable.
This is the perfect description for the solid performance of Iloilo Kisela Knights in the ongoing Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Season 2.
The Leo Sotaridona-owned professional chess team swept their Saturday night matches, including an upset victory against one of the North’s powerhouse teams. The team is cruising to a 16-1 win loss card.
Maintaining their top spot in the Southern Division, Kisela hammered Caloocan, 12-9 before surviving San Juan, 11.5-9.5.
Against Caloocan, Iloilo won a small margin in blitz game, 4-3, with only Fiona Guirhem (Board 3), Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Board 4), Fritz Porras (Board 6) and Rolly Parondo Jr. (Board 7) contributing one point each.
Escaping from a close defeat, IKK relied on their heroics to seal the first win, ruling the rapid game, 8-6, behind two-pointers by Antonio, John Michael Silvederio (Board 5) and Parondo and splits from Cesar Mariano (Board 1) and Karl Victor Ochoa (Board 2).
Iloilo encountered a tough match against San Juan, falling short in the rapid game, 8-6. But with a never say die spirit, Kisela scored a 5.5-1.5 triumph in blitz, thanks to Mariano, Antonio, Silvederio, Porras and Parondo and a split by Ochoa.
For Sotaridona he thanked for the solid performance of all the team members from the top to the bottom boards. While at this stage of the league poses no credible threat to the top teams, there is one thing that is starting to emerge – homegrowns are showing their respective potentials to deliver a win in the top board if given the chance.
“Case in point, the fastest mind alive of team Caloocan almost fell over to our senior player, NM Cesar Mariano, during their rapid game encounter. One can argue that our win over San Juan is less unexpected given that their top board was not able to play. Regardless, our team is quite happy to see the versatility and flexibility of our team members with respect to board placement,” he added.
Meanwhile, Negros Kingsmen dropped to 11-6 in the standings after another split of their two games. They won against Cavite, 15-6 but suffered a defeat against Cagayan,14-7.
Negros dominated Cavite in blitz game, 6-1 with victories, from Mari Turqueza (Board 2), Natori Diaz (Board 3), Adrian Pacis (Board 4), Edsel Montoya (Board 5), Ted Montoyo (Board 6) and Theseus Benitez Jr. (Board 7).
They also outplayed Cavite in rapid event, 9-5, on victories by Ellan Azuela (Board 1), Turqueza, Montoya and Montoyo and a draw by Benitez.IMT Sports
