THE UST Male Woodpushers swept the UP Fighting Maroons, 4-0, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s chess tournament at the FEU Tech Gym on Sunday, Oct. 15.
UST’s Melito Ocsan Jr. opened the day with a 39-move pouncing of UP’s Cyrus Francisco.
Mark Daluz, who settled for a draw in his UAAP debut, captured his first win, outlasting reigning co-MVP Stephen Pangilinan in 53 moves.
Chester Reyes and Julius Gonzales toppled Joshov Rosarda and Michael Olladas in 44 and 40 moves, respectively.
“Talagang excellent performance kasi ‘yung tinalo natin (UP) is second place last year and contenders pa din ngayong season kaya medyo maganda ang takbo ng labanan para sa atin,” UST head coach Ronald Dableo told the Varsitarian.
The Male Woodpushers have now tallied four points to top the standings, while the Season 85 runner-up UP Fighting Maroons remained with one point.
However, it was the complete opposite in the women’s division as the UST Lady Woodpushers absorbed a 4-0 defeat against Far Eastern University.
Josemier Panol succumbed to FEU’s Vic Derotas in 42 moves, while Princes Oncita and Rohanisah Buto yielded to Mary Joy Tan and Mhage Sebastian in 38 and 31 moves, respectively.
FEU’s Jasmine Tejada outsmarted Patricia Bernardo in 33 moves to complete the sweep.
“Actually talagang mabigat ang problema natin sa women’s kasi dalawa sa atin ay rookies lang,” Dableo said. “‘Yung dalawang pillars natin ay nagkaproblema sa academics pareho kaya medyo nahihirapan tayo sa adjustments.”
Season 85 silver medalist Jamaica Lagrio and bronze medalist Macydel Fajardo missed the tournament this season after both failed to meet the academic requirements for student-athletes.
In the junior’s division, the UST Junior Lady Woodpushers made a 4-0 rout of De La Salle Zobel, while the Junior Male Woodpushers opened their campaign with a 3-1 win against Adamson University.
The UST Male Woodpushers and Lady Woodpushers will next face the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the De La Salle Green Woodpushers at the same venue on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m. Brenn Allen L. Flores
