Martus tops UV scrabble challenge

National team member Teodoro Martus showed his mastery of words by topping the 1st University of the Visayas Scrabble Challenge at SM City, Cebu the other day.

Martus upset the top seeded player, fellow RP teammate and lawyer Odette Rio, in the eighth and final round to grab seven points.

Martus and UV’s Renz Yamson shared the lead after the final round but the former took the title after a tiebreaker, garnering 682 spread points against the latter’s 532 points.

Yamson finished on top after winning its last assignment against teammate Sheena Denden,

Dart Eslao, many-time coach of the University of Cebu wound up third after tallying six points and 675 spread points. Eslao used his vast vocabulary to outpoint Renante de la Cerna in the last round. Eslao and Rio finished tied for third but the former had a better spread points after the tiebreaker.

Martus pocketed P5,000 for his winning effort while Yamson got P3,000 and Eslao received P2,000.

The rest of the top 10 in the UV Scrabble challenge were Michael Laput, Rolly Navarro, Michael Trinidad, Sheena Denden, Avelino Guatno and Renante de la Cerna.

In a related development, Rosario Lambino, chairman of the Board of the National Scrabble Association of the Philippines (NASCAP), announced that Cebu would get a spot in the World Youth Scrabble Championship slated in December this year in Malaysia.

This contest will give Cebuano junior (17-under) scrabble enthusiasts a chance to show their talent in the said international event.  — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol