By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent
READY to throw in the towel, the slumping Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates suddenly came to life after winning their last four battles: the recent against Toledo and Camarines on Wednesday’s double-header in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ (PCAP) season-ending 3rd Conference.
Now the Checkmaters have the chance to pull the rags from under Camarines on Saturday’s finale of the second round elimination with the latter leading them by just a single point, eight-13 to seven-14 win-loss slates, for the last disputed-eight spot at stake in Southern division before the start of the playoff round.
Virtually secured to advance from the South are the 2nd Conference champion Iloilo and guest Paralympics with a similar 16-five card, Singapore (15-six), Penang (13-eight), Negros (14-seven), Lapulapu (13-eight), and Toledo (10-11).
Currently, the North’s top eight teams are the powerhouse San Juan and Pasig with an identical 20-one ledger, Laguna and Caloocan at 17-four, Manila (14-seven), Isabela (nine-12), Davao (10-11), and Rizal (eight-13).
“Deeply mired at five-14, I told our players to just play and enjoy since we already have bleak chances. We did not expect to sweep our last four-game assignments and have a chance for a possible slambang finish,” said Surigao team-playing owner, Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo.
Playing without pressure, the Checkmaters ― who are Mindanao's lone official entry in this foreign-laced Conference ― scored a cliffhanger over Toledo, 11-10 then repeated over Camarines, 15-six whom they also pummeled during the first round of the PCAP eliminations.
Last Saturday, the Checkmaters ― in their bid to either duplicate or surpass their quarterfinals stint in the 2nd Conference ― easily defeated Palawan, 14-seven, and Sunrays, 16.5-4.5, respectively.
Urbiztondo credited his top board aces National Masters Jonathan Tan and Joey Florendo and leading scorer Lennon Hart as well as Fide Master Vince Alaan, Tyrone Alaan, Joselito Serna, Rogelio Canoy, and female player Aubrey Gallardo for contributing to the team’s late uprising.
It’s going to be a “go-or-bust” on Saturday when the rival teams head to their last game assignments with Surigao facing Mindoro and Davao, and Camarines taking on Palawan and Laguna.
