THE ATENEO Women’s Chess Team (AWCT) failed to upset eventual champions Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws in their final match, 1-3, earlier this afternoon at the Adamson University Gym in the City of Manila.
After a season-long stellar play, rookie sensation Lexie Hernandez was named the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87’s Women’s Rookie of the Year (ROTY). The first-year player won a total of nine matches, recorded one tie, and suffered only one loss in her debut season—ranking seventh overall in the women’s division.
The Blue and White paraded a lineup that headlined ROTY Hernandez on board two, along with Elayza Villa, Jiesel Marino, and Alphecca Gonzales, on boards one, three, and four, respectively. On the other end, the formidable Lady Tamaraws posted a team composed of Woman National Master Mhage Sebastian, Vic Derotas, Mary Tan, and Franchesca Largo.
Playing white, Hernandez’s match against Derotas started slowly, with both players holding passive positions. It was at the midpoint of the game when Hernandez started dominating, deploying a pawn storm on the king’s side that saw her take a decisive advantage to consequently force Derotas to resign.
With her sensational performance, Hernandez avenged her lone loss of the season which came against FEU in stage one, effectively getting Ateneo on the board with the win. “Lagi sinasabi ng captain namin, ‘yan ang God’s will, so ‘yan ang dinala ko sa laro ko,” said the rookie of the year when asked how she felt during the match.
(Our captain always says that it is truly with God’s will, so that is what I carried heading into my matchup.)
The newly-minted ROTY expressed her profound joy as she braced herself for the awarding ceremony. “Siyempre sobrang saya ko nung nanalo, kasi sobrang laki ng impact ng last game ko [this season],” Hernandez said.
(I definitely felt overjoyed after I won, because the impact of my last game was huge.)
Concurrently, on board four, Gonzales faced Largo in a bout that saw both players exchange calculated plays, with the latter gaining the advantage and giving the Loyola Heights-based squad their first loss of the day.
Meanwhile, on boards one and three, patience played a key role as Villa and Marino competed against Sebastian and Tan, respectively. After the longest matches of the day, both Villa and Marino dropped their respective duels, bringing Ateneo’s final record in today’s matchup against the champions to 1-3.
Even with the loss, the Blue Eagles proudly placed fourth in the overall ranking of Season 87. The Blue Eagles also brought home two silver medals in the tournament, with Villa bagging second place on board two, and Hernandez winning third on board three. Gonzales rounded out the accolades for the team, securing a bronze medal for her performance on board five.
Final Ranking (Match Points)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 26
- DLSU Lady Woodpushers – 20
- NU Lady Bulldogs – 20
- Ateneo Blue Eagles – 16
- UP Fighting Maroons – 13
- UST Lady Woodpushers – 11
- AdU Lady Falcons – 6
