COMING from a two-game roll, both Surigao and Cagayan de Oro managed to pull off at least one upset each on Saturday prior to another double-header assignment tonight, in the inter-division face-off of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines All-Filipino Conference.
Facing a team powered by two International Masters on the top boards, the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates surprised the Caloocan Loadmanna Knights, 11-10 with the senior player, National Master Cyril Ortega and lady stalwart Mariel Romero both delivering a perfect score in blitz and rapid plays.
Switching positions, IM Paulo Bersamina blanked John Ranel Morazo on board one, but IM Barlo Nadera yielded in a blitz to board 2 rival Lennon Hart Salgados, followed by a draw in their rapid duel that inspired Surigao's one-point escape after also victories from Antonio Chavez Jr (blitz) and Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo in the lower boards.
The CMOCA Higalas, on the other hand, bested the Isabela Knight Raiders, 13-8 highlighted by Aljie Cantonjos’ stunning conquest of IM Joel Banawa to complement the triumphant matches of Johnnel Balquin, NM Anthony Makinano, and Lorebina Carrasco II on boards 1, 2 and 3 in the rapid skirmish.
Balquin, Makinano, and Carrasco also triumphed in Cagayan de Oro’s 4-3 conquest of Isabela in the first blitz showdown.
They, however, lost in their other matches as the powerhouse Laguna Heroes drubbed the CMOCA Higalas, 12-9 and the stacked San Juan Predators crushed the Surigao Checkmaters, 17.5-3.5.
To Cagayan de Oro’s best consolation, Balquin after a defeat in blitz exacted revenge by upstaging the US-based Grandmaster Rogelio Barcenilla Jr in their rapid tiff.
Paired against one of the best GMs in the online field, Surigao’s Salgados misfired in blitz but held Oliver Barbosa to a truce in rapid.
Surigao’s Ortega had also some moments in their team defeat when he outplayed IM Ricardo de Guzman in blitz and held him to a draw in rapid.
The 3-1 record in their last four outings thus put Surigao in a tie for fifth with Toledo at 13-8 win-loss record and Cagayan de Oro sharing Camarines at 7th spot with 9-12 card in PCAP Southern division.
