Barangay Wesley vs Don Galo (The Second Encounter)

A day before Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire detonated a bomb on Fernando Montiel's right jaw last Sunday, another knock out had exploded in Barangay Don Galo, Parañaque.

Armed to the teeth this time, host Don Galo Chess Club butchered the visiting Barangay Wesley Chess Club over the weekend in a chess team tournament billed as "Don Galo vs Barangay Wesley Friendly Chess Match 2" to level their match-up at 1:1 scorecard.

Don Galo's win last Saturday spiced up the duel between the two chess teams as calls for the third encounter now come like banging cymbals.

In their first encounter in September 2010, Barangay Wesley won over Don Galo on the back of NM Paulo Bersamina's flawless performance.

Last Saturday, however, Don Galo beefed up its line-up by fielding master-caliber players like Mervin Lumidao to clobber the strength and might of BW players. Lumidao was the Board 4-man of the Don Galo Team which placed third overall in the 2010 National Inter-Cities & Municipalities Rapid Chess Tournament that was held in Dagupan in December of last year.

BW missed the services of Paulo in the second encounter since he was still in Russia that day. This young Filipino chess gem had just participated in Group C of 2011 Aeroflot Chess Open where he displayed a solid performance.

But of course, at the center of the burgeoning friendly competition between Don Galo and BW is enjoyment born of camaraderie.

Games. Food. Friendship. It's a life celebrated in the BW-Don Galo marriage.

The third encounter is in order. The thrill has just begun . . .