AS host Provincial Capitol, Tagoloan and guest squad Cagayan de Oro waxed hot early, Team Balingoan ― led by no less than its town mayor Aaron Unabia ― surprised everyone after Round 2 of the Paglaum Cup chess team competition today at the Activity Center of the Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro City.
“We did not expect that Balingoan (would be) a competitive chess team,” remarked arbiter Arbz Calido after the youthful Unabia and company won back-to-back to join the lead pack in this round-robin tourney.
Unabia, who surprisingly came and introduced himself as just a mere chess enthusiast, made a short work over Talisayan Mayor Rico Taray en route to his team’s 3-1 finish.
Only Maria Kristel Lou Baja produced a win on board 3 from the Talisayan side, as Balingoan’s Roque Brigido Llagas and Mary Fern Oysongco also triumphed on boards 2 and 4, respectively.
There’s no doubting the Balingoan chessers’ capability in the next round as they ran roughshod over a stunned Gingoog, 4-0 to make their presence felt in this four-board team rivalry.
“But we never came here to relax as a guest team. Our plan right now is to conquer and win all the marbles in this chess event,” warned former Class A player Roy Dablo, who opted to play board 3 for Cagayan de Oro.
Hearing this, Tagoloan’s top gun Esmar Estrella and Provincial Capitol’s board one Noel Paguidopon could only shake their heads in disagreement.
