The National teams in the recent 44th Fide World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India did well considering their rankings and the opposition in the tournament.
A last-day heroics of International Master Paulo Bersamina enabled the men’s team to shock third-seed Norway, 2.5-1.5 in the final round of the tournament. Bersamina’s much-needed win came at board 4 when he upset GM Olav Olsen Urkedal for the full point in their encounter.
The win enabled the Filipinos to place 32nd in the tournament, a big difference from the 52nd seeding before the start of the Olympiad. The Designated Kit Man used to cover Bersamina when he was younger, in fact he was still in high school when he showed much promise in tournaments organized by GM Jayson Gonzales, the executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and also the women’s team coach in the Olympiad.
The women’s team, seeded 39th in the competitions, also gave a good account of themselves, harrowingly missing a historic Top 10 finish after a loss in the final round against number 14 seed Cuba, 1.5-2.5 in the last playing day.
Nonetheless, it was valiant effort for the ladies. Again, I was able to cover Janelle Mae Frayna before she earned her GM norms. Coached and mentored by Gonzales, Frayna made history when she became the country’s first woman Grandmaster.
Thanks to Gonzales and efforts by the GM Eugene Torre, GM Rosendo Balinas and the NCFP, the future of Philippine Chess remains bright despite losing GM Wesley So to the American Chess Federation. Personally, I’m so proud of Bersamina and Frayna, who used to play as kids in local tournaments before and are now holding their own against the best chess players in the world.
Other members of the men’s team include GM Mark Paragua, GM John Paul Gomez, GM Darwin Laylo and GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. Aside from Frayna, Woman International Master (WIM) Jan Jodilyn Fronda, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, WIM Kylene Joy Mordido and Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Dizaon also competed for the women’s side.
Good job, teams!
Speaking of another wonderful development, the Philippines Football League got off to a good start despite the heavy rains last weekend. Defending champs and AFC Cup compaigners Kaya FC Iloilo scored goal late in the game against Azkals Development Team to start the tournament. I am hoping that more fans will come to Rizal Football Stadium, the Imus City Grandstand in Cavite, Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna, Cebu City, Iloilo City, and New Clark City Stadium. Let us continue to support our own domestic football league.
Before ending this piece, allow me to offer some prayers and condolences to the family of Lydia De Vega-Mercado — one of my local sports heroes back when people read the newspapers, especially the sports pages, with gusto and much passion.
Growing up in the early 80s, the name Lydia De Vega was synonymous to both national pride and honor. The Bulakenya was once the sprint queen of Asia, winning back-to-back gold medals in the Asian Games in New Delhi, India in 1982 and in Seoul, South Korea four years later, both in the 100-meter dash.
She also won two gold medals in the Asian Athletics Championships in 1983 in Kuwait and another in Singapore in 1987 in the 100m and 200m dash.
She was also a consistent source of gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games from 1981 up to 1993, all-in-all bagging nine gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400-meter races and even a gold in the long jump during the 1987 Jakarta SEA Games in Indonesia. She also competed in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California and in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
She was the athlete, the idol and the ultimate superstar of her time. Her exploits in the tracks were more than enough for ordinary Filipinos to forget their daily problems then, with the mere mention of the long-legged lass winning another gold medal for the country. Just imagine how many Instragram and Facebook followers and likes she would have had if these social media platforms and other online channels were already present then.
Anything about Lydia then was big news. She would have been an online celebrity then, on and off the tracks. Not like what we have nowadays where so-called celebrities and influencers would do almost anything, even to the point of distorting history and common sense, just for clout.
While De Vega’s personal life then was also scrutinized, she kept her critics quiet by performing her best in the tracks.
No drama, just letting the opposition eat her dust. There were no trade-offs then, which is difficult to say nowadays. Sadly, not too many young people now know about the exploits of Diay as she was fondly called then during her heyday. And who could forget the beef between her father-coach Tatang and Michael Keon, the director of Gintong Alay then?
If not for some breaking stories mentioning her battle against breast cancer in the past weeks, we won’t probably know what happened to her in this age that everything you would want and not want to know are blasted on various social media platforms.
But on the positive side, De Vega will always be remembered as one of those once-in-a-lifetime athletes, who made ordinary Filipinos proud, whenever they set foot, literally on the ground. She was one of us. She represented the yearnings of a country hoping to triumph against everyday trials, challenges and other concerns.
She will always be remembered as someone we are all proud of. Rest in peace, Diay.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at [email protected] or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat