The UST Male Woodpushers seized their first UAAP blitz chess title after dethroning the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 4-0, 2.5-1.5, 2-2, in the Season 88 finals on Sunday, April 12, at the Adamson Gym.
Last season, UST was swept by FEU, 4-0, in the finals when blitz chess was still a demonstration sport in the league.
UST, which secured its fifth straight championship in standard chess in November, completed a flawless run in this year’s campaign, going 5-0 in the elimination round before dispatching the No. 4 Ateneo Blue Eagles in the semifinals, 3.5-0.5, 3-1, 3-1, to advance to the finals.
UST won the first two games convincingly against the Tamaraws before a 2-2 draw, led by the quartet of Season 88 standard chess MVP Chester Reyes, Christian Mark Daluz, Jan Clifford Labog and Carl Daluz, clinched the Male Woodpushers’ first title in the event.
“Last year kasi ‘yong period of adjustment, medyo maiksi. Dito sa men’s [this year], napaghandaan namin,” UST head coach Ronald Dableo told the Varsitarian. “Okay naman rin kasi first time and su-sustain lang namin ‘yong standard.”
Labog secured a gold medal after winning seven games on Board 2. Christian Daluz, who will graduate this year, ended his UAAP stint after collecting a total of 17 wins.
Season 88 standard chess MVP Chester Reyes took home the gold medal on Board 4, while Vince Pascual added another gold medal on Board 5. Meanwhile, Carl Daluz collected a silver medal after finishing the campaign with six wins.
Their female counterparts, the UST Lady Woodpushers, fell short of a Final Four slot on Saturday, finishing fifth in Season 88 after missing the semifinals on a tiebreaker against Ateneo.
Princes Oncita captured the silver medal on Board 4 after winning five matches, while Rohanisah Buto reaped gold after tallying nine wins in the season.
As the team heads into the offseason, Dableo highlighted the need to address the adjustment between the standard and blitz formats, noting that the transition remains a key challenge for his players.
“Ang laki ng transition ng standard sa blitz kasi ‘yong mga sanay sa standard [chess], nahihirapan mag-adjust sa blitz,” Dableo said. “Kumbaga, sa part namin, magro-group ako ng anim na players natin na pang-standard lang, tapos magro-group ako ng anim na players sa blitz.”
“Itong anim sa blitz, wala silang gagawin buong taon kundi maglaro lang nang maglaro ng blitz para ‘yong focus, ‘yong pulso ng player, nandoon lang, maintain lang.”
