The UST Lady Woodpushers lost grip of the top seed after collapsing against the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 0-4, in the UAAP women’s chess tournament at the FEU Tech Gym on Wednesday.
UST stumbled to third place with 11 first-round points, tied with the DLSU Lady Archers and below the top-seeded NU Lady Bulldogs (14) points and new No. 2 team FEU (12 points).
UST’s Josemier Jene Panol faltered against FEU’s woman national master Bea Mendoza in 43 moves.
Macydel Fajardo succumbed to FEU’s rookie Me Ann Joy Baclayon in 54 moves, while Lady Tamaraw Rizalyn Jasmine Tejada outsmarted Jamaica Marie Lagrio.
FEU completed the sweep after Divine Grace Luna defeated UST rookie Rohanisah Buto in 39 moves.
UST’s head coach Ronald Dableo said the performance of the Lady Woodpushers was “disappointing.”
“Hindi ko ma-detect ‘yung naging problema. Kahapon, nag-training naman kami kaya lang hindi ko alam ang nangyari,” he told the Varsitarian.
The league has yet to announce the schedule of the second round of the chess tournament. John Peter L. Cajayon.
