THE COACH of UST’s chess teams blamed them subpar performances this season on the absence of top recruits as a result of the K to 12 program.
The men’s and women’s teams finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the UAAP chess tournament that ended last April 8 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Woodpushers head coach Ronald Dableo said the education program pushed back recruitment, as Grade 10 players still had to wait for two more years in senior high school before actually competing in the collegiate division.
With the lack of recruits, both teams went into the tournament short-handed, with only six players each and no reserves.
“Mas maraming players, mas maganda sana. Kasi mas gaganda ang sparring, therefore mas marami ang makukuha nilang ideas sa mga ka-sparring nila,” Dableo told the Varsitarian in an interview.
The Male Woodpushers accumulated 32 points at the end of the tournament, 0.5 short of eventual bronze medalistFar Eastern University (FEU). The Female Woodpushers had 29.5 points.
To make up for the lack of players, Dableo and Junior Woodpushers head coach Peter Lim went to the 2018 Palarong Pambansa in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur last April 15 to 20.
“Sa men’s team kasi apat ang ga-graduate. Ang kukunin na namin ay ‘yung talagang top caliber na,” Dableo said.
The Male Woodpushers will lose Heirry Manaloto, Christian Flores, Jhon Petter Ablid and Michael Manansala II, while the Female Woodpushers will go on without Michaela Concio and Cyamir Villanueva next season after exhausting their playing years.
Wasted chances
Dableo said the teams could have placed higher had they closed out crucial games late in the season.
The biggest loss for the men’s team came in the last day of the tournament when UST Board 4 player Peter Ablidyielded to Adamson’s Kristian Arellano in what seemed like a stalemate, according to Dableo.
Had Ablid managed at least a draw, the Male Woodpushers could have copped third place by effect of the quotient rule.
In women’s play, the 1-3 loss to the University of the East last Mar. 24 is what Dableo treated as the downfall of the Female Woodpushers.
“Okay na sana kahit 2-2 kasi lamang pa rin tayo sa UE kung ganon. Grabe ‘yung Board 2 lamang ng isang knight, isang pawn at lamang sa posisyon, pero natalo pa,” he said.
After the discouraging UE loss, the Female Woodpushers drew with the University of the Philippines in the next game that ruled them out of the podium.
Female Woodpushers team captain Highzzy Manaloto said playing in their home court dealt added pressure to win games.
“Dumagdag ‘yung pressure na sa UST kami naglaro.Maraming winning games pero hindi na-ha-handle ‘yung pressure ka
