University of Perpetual Help Rules the Mayor Len-len Alonte-Naguait Inter-Barangay/Cluster Chess Team Team Championship

BY: ANTHONY NAVARRO (Chesswindows Laguna Correspondent)

The election fever has definitely caught up in the Philippine chess scene, and the NEW city of Binan is no exception. An Inter-barangay/cluster chess team championship was held March 13 to 14 at the Pavilion Mall Activity Center with 14 teams participating in the 5 round Swiss / rapid 30 minutes chess event to contend for a total of PhP 37K in prizes for the top 10 teams and board medalists. This was sponsored by Binan Mayor Len-len Alonte-Naguait and Councilor Gat Alatiit with the support of the Council led me Elmer Dimaranan and Jun Tan Gana.

The merry mix of veterans and young guns of Binan chess and guests converged in this event and we were witness to several exciting chess games. After the smoke of battle cleared, following were the winners :

Champion University of Perpetual Help System of Laguna (UPHSL) Team 1
2nd Bgy San Antonio
3rd Bgy Sto Tomas B / Rivas-Adelina
4th Bgy San Jose / Central Bakery
5th Bgy Platero
6th UPHSL Team 4
7th Bgy Sto Tomas
8th UPHSL Team 3
9th Bgy Dela Paz 2
10th UPHSL Team 2/Bgy Sto Nino

Board 1 Manuel Salazar Bgy Platero
Board 2 Alex Vinas Bgy San Antonio
Board 3 Michael Miguel Penero UPHSL 1
Board 4 Ferdinand Peralta Bgy San Antonio
Board 5 Joey Zarcadias Bgy Sto Tomas

The City Countil vowed this will now be an annual event and with Binan being a new city and being in the circle of sports meets like the STCAA, we can expect more chess events to be calendared.

Poster of the event displayed at the Pavilion Mall Activity Center

Board Medalists

Victorious University of Perpetual Help System of Laguna Team 1

with NM/Coach Ricky Merano (hidden) other UPHSL players and Binan Councilors Gat Alatiit, Jun Tan Gana,Elmer Dimaranan and organizer Rocky Mercado

The other key match-up in the final 5th round at Table#2 between UPHSL1 Team 1 (eventual champion) and Bgy Dela Paz Team 1

Intense struggle in final 5th round match between Bgy San Antonio bannered by

NM Ricky Merano (Board 1) and Dennis Lemsic aka Rookdens (Board 3) vs Central

Bakery/Bgy San Jose led by Lee family.

Biñan chess has a future with Councilors Gab Alatiit and Jun Tan Gana being keen chess players

LCA Director/ NM Ricky Merano with UPHSL ace Manuel Salazar (played for

Bgy Platero) and organizer Rocky Mercado and family