THE UST Male Woodpushers eked out a 2.5-1.5 victory over the UP Fighting Maroons in the second stage of the UAAP men’s chess tournament at the FEU Tech Gym on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Melito Ocsan Jr. continued his dominance with a 50-move beating of Arena International Master Cyrus Francisco.
Chester Reyes trampled Joshov Rosarda once again, but this time with his Modern Defense to give UST a 2-0 advantage.
Reigning MVP Julius Gonzales salvaged a 43-move stalemate against Michael Olladas to secure UST’s win.
In Board 1, Mark Daluz and his Alekhine’s Defense did not work against his opponent, faltering in 53 moves against UP’s Stephen Pangilinan, who was the Season 85 co-MVP of Gonzales.
“Medyo bumibigay na si Daluz, sumasama na ‘yung laro eh,” UST head coach Ronald Dableo told the Varsitarian. “Medyo nagdadalawang isip na ako sa pagmi-mix sa boards, pero tingnan natin.”
Dableo also said that UST team captain Brylle Vinluan will be unavailable in the final week of the tournament due to a school retreat.
UST remained atop the standings with 12 match points with three games left to play, while UP fell to fourth place with seven match points.
Meanwhile, the UST Lady Woodpushers extended their losing streak to four after falling short against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 2.5-1.5.
Rohanisah Buto made quick work of Kristine Flores’s Fantasy Variation of the Karo-Cann Defense to notch UST’s lone win of the day.
Princes Oncita used the Krause Variation of the Queen’s Pawn Opening to force a draw against Ateneo’s Elayza Villa in 80 moves.
Josemier Panol and Patricia Bernardo succumbed to Jiessel Marino and Alphecca Gonzales in 58 and 32 moves, respectively.
“Hands up na talaga ako, although may chance pa eh kung manalo lang sa upcoming games against La Salle and NU. Pero dapat kanina talaga panalo kasi tinalo na namin ‘yan (Ateneo) noong first stage,” Dableo said.
The Lady Woodpushers are still in last place with three match points, while the Ateneo Blue Eagles rose to third with seven match points.
In the junior’s play, the UST Junior Male Woodpushers opened their second-stage campaign with a 2.5-1.5 victory over Adamson University, while the UST Junior Lady Woodpushers swept the De La Salle Zobel, 4-0.
The UST Male Woodpushers will next face the DLSU Green Archers at the same venue tomorrow, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m.
