THE ATENEO Blue Eagles were routed by the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 1-3, in the ninth round of matches in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Men’s Chess Tournament on Saturday, October 12, at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila City.
Ateneo now sits at seventh with a 2-3-4 record and a points total of 14.5. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are third in the UAAP Men’s Chess standings with 17.5 points.
The Blue Eagles went with their usual starting roster: Vince Edralin, Tristan Cervero, Team Captain Gavin Ong, and Alexander Santos took responsibility of boards one to four, respectively.
Eraldin, Ong, and Santos failed to secure a win in their respective matches. Sophomore Cervero was the sole player to get a win from his match, pulling off a well-deserved checkmate against his NU counterpart.
After the match, Cervero explained his mindset amidst the Blue Eagles’ losing slump. “Just before every game, I remove the pressure within me and just relax,” he remarked. “For me, what’s important is that I give all my best effort in every game.” The Blue Eagles will attempt to revive their contention hopes against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Sunday, October 13, 1:00 PM, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila City.
