AFTER the success of Surigao, Cagayan de Oro will try to be the second team in Mindanao upstaging the second conference champion Iloilo when the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines resumes tonight at 7 pm via Chess.com online format.
The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates ended the five-game roll of the Iloilo Kisela Knights, but not after a thrilling 2-1 finish in the Armageddon tiebreaker after both of their blitz and rapid matches ended in a draw.
“To beat a team like Iloilo is like a herculean task kay gawas nga kusog ilang mga homegrown players, naa pa gyod sa ila ang 13-time Philippine Open champion nga si Grandmaster Joey Antonio and former child prodigy Karl Victor Ochoa,” said the Oro Higalas’ reliable scorer Jaime Joshua Frias II.
To the Higalas’ consolation, they beat Surigao earlier which could give them enough confidence to put up a good fight against Iloilo.
“Patsada kini nga match-up. Naa ‘miy chance ini nga maka-milagro,” Frias told Gold Star Daily.
The Surigao chessers, on the other hand, will try to avoid getting swept by fellow Mindanao campaigners when they face Zamboanga Sultans.
Apart from Cagayan de Oro, Surigao also yielded to Davao Chess Wizards who now occupy the PCAP Southern Division's top spot in the company of Iloilo Knights at 5-1 win-loss slate.
“Pride is all at stake here. Maningkamot lang kontra Zamboanga kay wala pa ‘mi daug sa Mindanao team,” said Surigao team owner Honorary National Master Rey Urbiztondo.
Leading in Northern Division are the Pasig Pirates and San Juan Predators who remain unbeaten at 6-0.
