By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent
THE Bisdak-powered (Bisayang dako) Philippine Paralympic Team will take on the unbeaten San Juan on Saturday in an epic battle between the Northern and Southern division pacesetters of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) 3rd Conference skirmishes.
After the keenly-awaited opener at 7:30 pm via chess.com online platform, the Para chessers will then face the unheralded Pampanga (3-6) in a bid to sustain their ‘second round’ momentum in the PCAP challenge, featuring foreign teams from Singapore, Thailand, China, and Malaysia.
With Davao City’s wheel-chair riding Henry Lopez playing the heroic role on board 6, the Para team surprised the Pasig Pirates of Grandmasters Roland Salvador and Darwin Laylo on Wednesday, 11-10. And despite capping the night with a 9-12 defeat at the hands of the GM Banjo Barcenilla-led Laguna Heroes, the Para team still kept the lead in the Southern Division with an 8-1 win-loss slate ahead of joint second placers Iloilo and Negros at 6-3.
“They’re just a guest team and with physical disability to some members nga naa sab visually-impaired, ilang gipakita ang talagsaon nga paningkamot. They’re really an inspiration for everyone to follow on their great example,” said Olongapo Rainbow top-board player, National Master Levi Mercado from Cagayan de Oro.
San Juan shares the Northern division lead with Laguna at 9-0.
Meanwhile, the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmaters ― who are struggling with only 2 wins to show in 9 outings ― will try to improve against Caloocan and Isabela.
The team’s scoring machine Lennon Hart Salgados from Cagayan de Oro, who missed Wednesday’s double-header, might resume his productive duty on board 2.
“We congratulate Lennon Hart for making it to the top-15 best performing players midway of the PCAP 3rd Conference tourney. He has 8 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss overall,” said Surigao team owner, Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo of the Philippine Airforce stalwart.
PCAP’s top 25 individual players are the following: IM Cris Ramayrat of Manila (14-0-0), IM Ricky de Guzman of San Juan (14-0-0), GM Rogelio Barcenilla of Laguna (12-1-1), Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Caloocan (11-3-0), Eric Labog Jr. of Pasig (11-2-1), Jerlyn Mae San Diego of Paralympics (11-1-1), Lexie Hernandez of Pampanga (11-2-1), FM Roel Abelgas of Para (12-1-1), FM Narquinden Reyes of San Juan (11-3-0), WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda of San Juan (11-2-1), NM John Michael Silvederio of Iloilo (11-1-2), GM Joey Antonio of Iloilo (9-5-0), GM Oliver Barbosa of San Juan (9-5-0), Narquingel Reyes of San Juan (9-2-3), Lennon Hart Salgados of Surigao (8-5-1), Vince Angelo Medina of Laguna (11-0-3), FM Efren Bagamasbad of Laguna (11-0-3), NM Cesar Mariano of Iloilo (11-0-3), IM Manby Senador of Isabela (10-2-2), GM John Paul Gomez of Laguna (9-3-1), IM Barlo Nadera of Caloocan (9-3-1), Xuan Rui Ethan Poh of Singapore (9-1-4), IM Paulo Bersamina of Caloocan (10-1-3), Narciso Gumila Jr. of San Juan (10-0-4) and FM David Elorta of Pasig (8-4-2).
