FEU chessers post two wins

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Far Eastern University continued its remarkable showing, beating two more rivals and pulling away in the overall race in the 73rd UAAP chess team championships at the FEU Technology Bldg. over the weekend.

Bannered by Lennon Hart Salgados and Sheider Nebato, FEU whipped La Salle, 3.5-0.5, in the third round last Saturday and edged Adamson, 2.5-1.5, the following day to grab the solo lead in the eight-team competition with 13 points.

Salgados outduelled Franz Robert Grafil of La Salle and Marc Reyes of Adamson, while Nebato crushed Emmanuel Songcuya of La Salle and Ronnie Guerra of Adamson to lead the Tams to their fourth straight triumph.

Antonio Chavez humbled Angelo Joshua Nuestro for FEU’s third win over La Salle.

Revin Vasallo averted a shutout for La Salle when he drew with Alfredo Rapanot on board three.

Rapanot also drew his match against Ferdinand Ryes of Adamson, whle Chavez lost to   Ai Guya on board four.

 The twin victories came after FEU also won over Universiyt of Santo Tomas, 3.5-.5 and University of the Philippines, 3.5-.5, in the firsttwo round slast Jan. 9.

Sharing second to third places with nine points are UP and UST.

UP, led by Leo Daylo Jr. and Marc Christian Nazario, nipped Ateneo, 2.5-1.5, in the third round and beat La Salle, 3-1, in the fourth round , while UST, bannered by Joey Albert and Patrick Erle Florendo,   edged UE, 2.5-1.5, in the third round and crushed Ateneo, 4-0, in the fourth round..

UE nosed out National University, 2.5-1.5, despite the upset loss of Nelson Mariano III to Benz McKenly Anastacio to join Adamson in fourth to fifth places with 8.5 points.

In the women’s division, La Salle and NU came through with similar easy victories over their respective matches to share the lead with 12.5 points.

La Salle trounced Ateneo, 3-1, behind the victories of Marie Angeli Dimakiling over Bernice Flores, Akiko Suede over Kristine Mae Mariano and Jan Jodilyn Fronda over Nikki Capinpin.

World Olympiad veteran Cheradee Chardine Camacho saved the day for Atereo when she outclassed Aices Salvador in their board one encounter.

La Salle also beat Adamson, 3-1, with Salvador, Suede and Fronda providing the victories. Over Clarissa de la Cruz, Nairadeth Dulce and Eloisa Sta. Rita.

Only Susan Grace Neri lost for La Salle, yielding to Giane April Flores.

Equally impressive was NU, which struck with 4-0 victory over Adamson and 2.5-1.5 decision over UP.

UST, bannered by Christine Joyce Laz and Zayra de la Cruz and handeld by coach GM Ronald Dableo, blanked UE, 4-0, in the third round and stunned defending champion FEU, 3-1, to move up to solo third with 12 points.

UP is now fourth with 9.5 points, followed by Ateneo with eight and FEU with six.

FEU drew with UP. 2-2 in the third round but lost to UST, 1-3 the following round.

In the junior division,   defending champion Adamson subdued Ateneo, 3-1, and La Salle-Zobel, 4-0, while FEU subdued National Univesity, 2.5-1.5, and University of Santo Tomas, 3.5-.5, to share the lead withidenticla scores of 10 points.

Adamson relied on Tyrone de los Santos, Timothy So Kua and Jean Karen Enriquez to beat Ateneo.

Ateneo averted a shutout when Jan Emmanuel Garcia defeated Crissa Canada in their top board encounter.

 Canada, Christian Fronda, De los Santos and Kua swept their assignments against LA Salle-Zobel.

FEU struck on victories by Jerad Docena over Alji Cantonjos and Charles Abuzo over Vincent Joseph Fuerte to edge NU.

Vine Angelo Medina, McDominique Lagula and Paul Robert Evangelista delivered the three victories for FEU over UST.

Ateneo bounced back from the third-round loss to Adamson with a 3-1 win over University of the East.

The fifth and sixth rounds will be held on Jan.22-23, while the seventh round is scheduled on Jan. 29.