THE Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Cavite fortified its high school chess team for the Season 102 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) by recruiting two junior stalwarts from Mindanao.
Already one of the most successful high school chess programs in the league by winning the NCAA Season 100 Championship and a runner-up finish in Season 101, the Junior Pirates further solidified their roster with the addition of Cassey Miguel Tabamo and National Master Keith Adriane Ilar, two lethal weapons in chess who could man the top boards for Lyceum’s quest for another NCAA chess glory.
After enrolling at Lyceum, Ilar and Tabamo flew to Ozamiz City last weekend to compete in the High School Open division of the cash-rich Gov. Henry S. Oaminal Open Chess Championships at the Ozamiz City Gymnasium in the province of Misamis Occidental.
The 16-year-old Ilar, who represented Maramag town, scored 8.0 points in nine rounds to share the top spot with Davao City’s Aaron Aton.
Ilar, however, prevailed via the “win over the other” tiebreaker to collar the P60,000 top purse and the championship trophy.
Carrying the Malaybalay City flag, Tabamo could have won the tournament after defeating Ilar in the penultimate eighth round. Needing just a draw in the final round, Tabamo misplayed a drawish endgame and succumbed to a heartbreaking setback against Aton.
Aton pocketed P30,000 for placing second while Tabamo went home with the P20,000 prize after placing third with 7.5 points.
“They (Ilar and Tabamo) have started playing chess in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental. I’m very proud to be one of their chess coaches during their formative years. I wish them good luck in dealing with another chapter of their school life and chess challenge in the big city of Manila,” Resurreccion Gunayan Jr. told The Manila Times.
Also sharing the limelight is former Batang Pinoy elementary champion Miykael Jerahmiel Lapad of Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental who led led a big bunch of 7.0 pointers and occupied fourth place worth P10,000 with his superior tiebreak points.
Another Malaybalay City bet Luke Haden Albores placed fifth to go home P6,000 richer.
Completing the top 10 finishers each with P2,000 take home purse are Jess Raphael Aballar and Jake Andre Aballar of Agusan del Norte, Lex Padayao of Cebu City, Khana Kathrine Ventolero of Zamboanga City and Jan Calvin Abesamis of Cagayan de Oro.
Meanwhile, in the Elementary division, 11-year-old Zephyrr Kyle Abalo of Cebu City also went to the tiebreaker to edge out fellow 6.5-pointer Danry Seth Romualdez of Pasig City for the championship trophy and the P30,000 top prize.
Romualdez pocketed P30,000 for the runner-up finish while Bradkint Gayramon of Cagayan de Oro bagged the bronze and the P20,000 purse.