It was a nerve-racking finale but Iloilo Kisela Knights bowed to Pasig Pirates and failed to reclaim its 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wesley So Cup title.
The Leo Sotaridona-owned professional chess team fell short on its back-to-back championship bid after a 2-1 loss to the Pirates in the Armageddon with only import Hovhannes Gabuzyan scoring a win over Mark Paragua.
Kisela Knights bowed to the Pirates in the first leg of the two-leg championship, 8.5-12.5, but the managed to equalize the scoreboard in the second leg, 15.5-5.5, to force the sudden death game.
In the Armageddon, Iloilo’s Karl Victor Ochoa and Pasig’s Kevin Arquero actually settled for a draw but the point was still counted for Pasig, while Iloilo’s Rogelio Antonio Jr. suffered a defeat to Pasig’s Eric Labog Jr.
Team Manager Hubert Canto said when it comes to talent and skills, Pasig is far way better than their team. Yet, they give them a good fight.
“Pinahirapan din namin sila kahit papano. We failed to defend our title but that’s a chance for us to practice more. Out of 5 conferences, we won one second runner up, one championship title, and three first runners-up. Not a bad record and that is something we can be proud of,” he added.
Meanwhile, Negros Kingsmen, bagged a third place finish after beating San Juan Predators, 14.5-6.5, to record its best finish in the PCAP.
Both teams settled for a 3.5-3.5 draw in the blitz event with only Tran Tuan Minh (Board 2), Ted Ian Montoyo (Board 6) and Joel Pimentel (Board 7) scoring wins, while Bernadette Galas (Board 3) settled for a split.
The Negrenses secured the win in the rapid event, 11-3, thanks to David Elorta (Board 1), Minh, Montoyo (Board 5) and Pimentel, Galas, Edmundo Gatus (Board 4) and Ellan Asuela (Board 6).IMT Sports
