After 10 straight wins, the Laguna Heroes team jumped to solo 3rd after beating Cordova Dagami Warriors, 16-5, at the start of the 2nd phase of elimination round of the PCAP All-Filipino Cup, Saturday, February 6, 2021 at the lichess platform.
The Laguna Heroes composed of woodpushers two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr., Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez, Fide Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, Vince Angelo Medina, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, Candidate Master Arjie Bayangat and team owner-playing coach Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo Paez proved steadier in the end to beat the determined Dagami Warriors team.
With their victory, Laguna improved to a 11-2 win-loss record in the Northern Division of the PCAP All-Filipino Cup while Cordova dropped to 6-7 in the Southern Division.
“We have been treating each round like a championship round,” said Paez.
In the Blitz portion versus the Dagami Warriors, the Heroes started well with a 4-3 after close decision wins from FM Literatus, GM Gomez, Medina and Bayangat.
The Heroes proved too tough for the Dagami Warriors in the Rapids as FM Literatus, WNM Enriquez, GM Gomez, Medina and Lorenzo convincingly beat Allan Pason, Woman International Master Bernadette Galas, Rex Androe Cabuncal, Francisco Rivera and Dione Patrick Minoza.
The Laguna Heroes also had engineer Jonathan Mamaril, Benjamin Dy and David Nithyananthan as they crushed Cebu City Machers, 20-1.
Only National Master Lincoln Yap was able to score for City Machers after beating FM Bagamasbad in their blitz encounter.
The Laguna Heroes opened their bids in a high note after demolishing Rizal Batch Towers (17.5-3.5) last January 16.
The Laguna Heroes tasted defeat at the hands of San Juan Predators (9-12) and Caloocan Loadmanna Knights (10-11) last January 20.
Then they beat Cavite Spartans (14-7) and Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 (18-3) on January 23; Pasig City King Pirates (12-9) and Antipolo Cobras (14-7), January 27; Cagayan Kings (16.5-4.5) and Isabela Knight Raiders (11-10), January 30; Manila Indios Bravos (11.5-9.5) and Quezon City Simba’s Tribe (19-2), February 3.
The Laguna Heroes look to extend their winning streak Wednesday night (February 10, 2021) when they face Iloilo and Iriga.
Action will begin at 7 p.m. with the Heroes facing the Kisela Knights first then the showdown against the City Oragons will be at 8:20 p.m.
Each player competes in blitz or rapid chess every match. A win in rapid chess is worth 2 points, while victory in blitz chess is 1 point. A draw in rapid chess is one point, while it’s half a point in blitz chess.
The 24-team tournament is organized by PCAP, headed by Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and President/Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra and supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr.