UNLUCKY “13” casted its dry spell on the UST Male Woodpushers’ 13th round skirmish at the boards against De La Salle University, relegating them to third place at the end of the Season 72 chess tournament at the UST Gym last February 28.
The Woodpushers’ 0.5-3.5 loss to La Salle last February 21, 5-3.5, at the UST-Tan Yan Kee Student Center threw away a do-or-die battle for the top spot against defending champions Far Eastern University (FEU), when FEU posted a 4.5 point lead in aggregate markers, 38.5 against UST’s 34-point output.
UST’s Joey Florendo gained a half-point for UST in board one after drawing with Paolo Bautista after 47 moves.
But Joey’s older brother Patrick (board four), Gerald Ferriol (board two), and Patrick Fronda (board three) fell to La Salle’s Kevin Vasallio, Joseph Turqueza, and Emmanuel Emperado in 30, 52, 22 moves, respectively.
Male Woodpushers head coach Winston Silva said his players had a good chance of winning the championship this season if not for their inconsistency.
“[I tell my players] they have to be consistent. There are still fluctuations even when facing weaker teams,” Silva said.
UST had to battle with season’s favorite FEU in the 14th and final round of the tournament, gaining only a measly half point for a total of 34.5, just one whisker away from second-placer University of the East (UE)’s 35.5 outcome.
All of UST’s boards succumbed to FEU’s Lyndon Sombilon, Jamse Bulicaton and Lufee Magdalaga. UST’s only mark was against the brickbat defense of Fronda who settled for a draw with Season 72 Most Valuable Player Sheider Nebato.
But despite their unexpected finish, Ferriol and Patrick reaped gold in boards two and four during the awarding ceremony.
Prior to its 13th round loss to La Salle, UST carved a 3-1 shutout of Ateneo de Manila University in the 12th round last February 20 for a 33.5 aggregate marker behind FEU’s 34.5.
Fronda surrendered to Ateneo’s Emmanuel Plan in board three after 45 moves, while the two Florendos, and Ferriol contributed one point apiece after outsmarting Francis Bayocboc, Ronald Tong and Nathan Sarigumba in 22, three, and 49 moves, respectively.
The Male Woodpushers also posted a 2.5-1.5 conquest over UE last February 13, to tie with FEU with 28.5 apiece.
Patrick outwitted UE’s Amam Rivas in a rousing 53 moves, while Ferriol won over Jayson Visca by 38 moves. UST’s Fronda settled for a draw with Aaron Rivas in board three, while Joey lost to Nelson Mariano in 30 moves.
Prior to the end of the first round, the Woodpushers returned to make up for their lackluster performance against La Salle (3.5-.5), NU (2-2) Adamson University (3.5-.5), UP (3.5-.5), Ateneo (4-0), and UE (2-2).
Dismal season
Unlike their male counterparts’ neck-and-neck battle for the title, the Lady Woodpushers had a dismal season and were good only for sixth place with 19 points.
Not even their dominating 4-0 performance against UE last February 13 was enough to erase the stigma of a rocky season for UST.
Going against newly crowned champions FEU in the last round of the tournament, only bronze medalist Rizza Dizon and silver medalist Vianca Cañada escaped FEU’s Jenny Palomo, and Lovely Medina with a draw. Rohini Vergara and gold medalist Carina Lumacad lost to Jedara Docena and Rulp Jose.
UST suffered a similar blow against the University of the Philippines (UP) last February 20. Vergara accounted for the team’s half point in board one after ending a 32-move match with Crystal Mendoza. Teammates Lumacad (board two), Dizon (board three), and Cañada (board four) yielded to UP’s Rida Young, Krizza Abasolo, and Mavrel Exconde in 39, 34, and 46 moves, respectively.
