UV-Mandaue student scores upset win in Macapaz chess

Rheno Gepiga of the University of the Visayas-Mandaue pulled a big upset win in the junior boys division of the NM Ben Macapaz Chess Clinic Students Chess Challenge at Sacred Heart School-Jesuit gym.

Gepiga dominated the battle with five points, with the fifth round victory scored past the highly-favored Yuri Cauba, the Milo 2006 MVP in the high school division.

Camilo Benabente, a student from Don Carlos Gothong MNHS, shared the limelight after winning second with 4.5 points as teammates Ricardo Petalcorin and Edmund Recaplaza wound up third and fourth, respectively.

Alex Angliongto also from UV-Mandaue was fifth and Cauba settled sixth.

In the distaff side, it was Mae Anne Bardelas, a varsity player from SHS, who reigned with 5.5 points.

Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion's Glanz Montenegro trailed with five points while the third to sixth placers were Johannah Esguerra of SHS, Kaye Oporto, Alhexiz Enad and Angogyn Flores of CIC.

In the kiddies division, it was the Balbona siblings who stamped their respective class.

Felix Shawn Balbona dominated all six rounds to win the boys class while the eight-year-old Rhenzi Sevilleno wound up second.

Another Balbona, Marq was third even as Bret Monsanto of SHS-J came out fourth while John Balbona and Philippe Teves were the fifth and sixth placers.

Jessa Balbona also duplicated the feat of his brother Felix Shawn, winning the kiddies' mixed division with a perfect six points.

Jessa Balbona overpowered Talisay's Janus Garzon, who entered the finals with five points.

Mary Yap of SHS-J also had five points to come out third while Christer Abad of USJ-R ended fourth. Marvie Abucay was fifth and Angelique Arcamo ended sixth.

The event, supported by Chicago-based Rene Sato along with SHS-J through Fr. Julian Hernando turned out very successful with chess clinic products reigning supreme in all divisions.

Winners of the event were awarded by NM Macapaz along with Jonie Davis, AVP of Banco Filipino.