Team Bataan captures 1st MCA crown

Team Bataan downed Marikina B, 2.5-0.5, in the ninth and final round to capture the title, via tie-break, of the just concluded Metropolitan Chess Association (MCA) Amateur League held over the weekend at the Lotus Garden Hotel located in Malate, Manila.

Led by National Master Yves Rañola and teammates Allan Macala, Efren Arguelles and Ricardo Briones, Team Bataan collected a total of 18 points, same tally posted by Team Marikina-A of Councilor Boy Santos after nine rounds of play in the event supported by Red Bull, Purefoods Carne Norte, Western Union, Touch Mobile, Glutaphos, Filipinas Shell, Ortigas & Co. Partnership Ltd. and Kitaro Restaurant.

However, Team Bataan emerged champion due to higher quotient. Team Marikina-A took the runner-up honors in this first MCA event joined by 40 teams from various chess clubs in the country.

The event organized by Metropolitan Chess Club and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines was launched last Dec. 7 and graced by Manila fifth district Councilor Cita Astals.

Sharing the honors in third to fourth places with 17.5 points were Team CMI Realty Corp. and Team DAREA under the office of Violeta Bonilla. Team Cagayan de Oro-Mindanao led by NM Levi Mercado and Team Dasmariñas under the office of Mayor Elpidio Bargaza Jr. occupied the fifth to sixth places respectively with 17 points each.

Team Mandaluyong under Willie Abalos, Marikina-B under Eric Malabiga, and PCSO under Romy Rigodon shared the seventh to ninth places with 16 points each while the squads of Marikina-Army and Colours Shoes made it in the 10th-11th place honors.

A special award rite is set at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 to honor the top 11 finishers and top board performers at the Lotus Garden Hotel with Nilo Bande, hotel resident manager, gracing the occasion.