“PARANG dumaan sa butas ng karayom.”

This was how 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio, Jr of the Iloilo Kisela Knights described the hair-raising win of the Davao Chess Wizards over the San Juan Predators that set the tone for the Davawenyos’ two-game roll in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines inter-division skirmish Saturday.

Davao edged San Juan, 11-10 followed by another thrilling 13-8 victory over Rizal to occupy solo second place in the Southern division at 13-4 win-loss record behind the pace-setting Iloilo, 16-1.

The returning Zamboanga Sultans also carved out back-to-back triumphs over Olongapo, 14-7, and Mindoro, 15-6 to forge a three-way tie for the 4th spot with Toledo and Surigao at 10-7.

Davao’s nightmarish escape against the inaugural season’s Open conference champion San Juan was unforgettable.

“Davao was so behind, 10-3 versus 3rd Conference Champ San Juan in the 1st match. Then we fought back to narrow the gap to 10-9 with only one game remaining at board one. It became a cardiac game which was eventually won by Davao, 11-10,” posted Engr Allan Diez, the Davao team manager, on his Facebook wall.

Despite playing without its top board scorers GM Oliver Barbosa and International Master Ricardo Nolte, San Juan quickly took the upper hand in the blitz showdown, 5-2 that only swelled when IM Ricardo De Guzman and Fide Master Narquinden Reyes overpowered National Masters Alexander Lupian and Aglipay 8 Oberio on boards 4 and 5 in the early goings of the rapid play.

But if as miracle happens, Davao’s board one FM Sander Severino and lady bet Arena Grandmaster Rowelyn Joy Acedo won their respective matches as well as NMs Henry Roger Lopez and Jonathan Tan on the lower boards as FM Roel Abelgas held FM Nelson Mariano III on board 2 for the match-saving 9-5 rapid finish.

In the last conference when playing as a guest team, Davao also managed to come back from a 0-7 deficit opposite Manila, recalled PCAP commissioner lawyer Paul Elauria.

“Even if we were in the losing end of this encounter, I am pleased that teams of PCAP are really competitive and anyone can beat anyone at any given day,” said PCAP chairman Michael Angelo Ong Chua in congratulating the Davao team.