THE ATENEO Chess Teams continue writing opposing narratives in their second stage campaigns in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87. The Ateneo Men’s Chess Team (AMCT) succumbed to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 1-3, while the Ateneo Women’s Chess Team (AWCT) pounced on the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Woodpushers to remain unbeaten in stage two, 3-1.
The games were held yesterday at the Adamson University Gym in the City of Manila.
Hungry to obtain their first win in the tournament’s latter stage, the AMCT deployed Paul Llanillo, Romeo Canino, Team Captain Khalil Kis-ing, and Knarf Batislaong. However, Fighting Maroons Stephen Pangilinan, Cyrus Francisco, Roderenz Ada, and Io Calica pulled favors toward the Maroon side of Katipunan.
The Men’s Team garnered their lone point courtesy of a Romeo checkmate over UP’s Francisco. Meanwhile, Llanillo, Kis-ing, and Batislaong failed to draw up points for Ateneo against Pangilinan, Adra, and Calica, respectively.
On a more fortuitous note, the AWCT added another chapter of wins into their book, with Team Captain Kristine Flores, Elayza Villa, Lexia Hernandez, and Alphecca Gonzales manning boards one to four, respectively. Exacting vengeance over their previous loss to DLSU, the quartet bettered the archrivals’ lineup of Francois Magpily, Sara Olendo, Rinoa Sadey, and Checy Telesforo.
Flores’ efforts to control the first board were fended off by Lady Woodpusher Magpily. However, the trio of Villa, Hernandez, and Gonzales barged in willful performances to seal the win for the Blue Eagles—overwhelming Olendo, Sadey, and Telesforo, respectively.
Regardless of their mixed results, the Blue Eagles remain keen on securing checkmates for Loyola Heights in the succeeding matches set in the same venue. The Men’s Chess Team will look to finally end their slump in a showdown versus the DLSU Green Woodpushers at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 16. On the other hand, the AWCT will square off against the University of Santo Tomas Lady Woodpushers, 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 13.
