UAAP chess wars

BY: BOBBY ANG

(As published in Chess Piece, BusinessWorld, 07 April 2011)

2010-2011 UAAP Chess (Men’s)
9th Floor FEU Technology Building
Nicanor Reyes Sr Street, Sampaloc, Manila

Final Standings
1. FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY (FEU), 45.5/56.0
2. UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST), 36.5/56
3. ADAMSON UNIVERSITY (AdU), 30.0/56
4. UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES (UP), 26.0/56
5. ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY (ADMU), 24.5/56
6. UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST (UE), 23.5/56
7. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (NU), 21.5/56
8. DELA SALLE UNIVERSITY (DLSU), 16.5/56

Here is the UAAP Champion’s roster for the past 10 years:
1999-00 DLSU
2000-01 DLSU
2001-02 DLSU
2002-03 DLSU
2003-04 DLSU
2004-05 DLSU
2005-06 UP
2006-07 FEU
2007-08 FEU
2008-09 FEU
2009-10 FEU

The La Salle mainstays during their championship years were John Paul Gomez (now an International Grandmaster), Oliver Dimakiling (IM but also a GM candidate now), Randy Segarra, Jayson Salubre and the Aton brothers, that’s Arnel, Ariel (these two are twins, I never could tell them apart) and Irwin.

The UP Champion team in 2005 had Leonard Reyes, Bernard Templo and Omar Bagalacsa.
Early on, the FEU championship squad core was Roderick Nava, Christian Arroyo, Lyndon Sombilon and Luffe Magdalaga. Later on they had Robert Evangelista. None of these players are eligible anymore in the UAAP, but the point is FEU still remains the champion. I have to say that their coach GM Jayson Gonzales has really whipped out quite a training program.

Jayson has set up a chess school funded from his own pocket where they have weekly tournaments and training sessions. He also gets sponsors for his players to participate in the University championships abroad and also to compete in local tournaments. I really cannot argue with his success -- Jayson Gonzales should get a medal.

Cagayan de Oro chess has lately seen a resurgence and produced several top players in the college circuit. FEU’s Salgados and Rapanot are both from that region.
In fact, it is a wonder why Rapanot is only 3rd board -- he tied for first in the Philippine Under-20 Age Group Championship last May 2010 (on tie break it was Richelieu Salcedo who gained gold -- he is also from Cagayan de Oro).

Rivas, Aaron Khrisna F -- Rapanot, Alfredo M [C06]
2010-11 UAAP Chess (SENIORS) FEU (7), 29.01.2011
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The UST team under the tutelage of IM Ronald Dableo is once again rebuilding. They recruited from Zamboanga City the Florendo brothers (Joey Albert and Patrick Erle) and pirated Steven Dacanay from Adamson to come up with quite a competitive squad. Just one more point-producer will make a serious contender for the gold medals.

Joey Albert tied with Pau Bersamina for the Philippine Junior Championship last year and just lost out on tie break points. His brother Patrick Erle is not without laurels either -- he tied with Sheider Nebato for the 2009 Under-18 Championship and was relegated to second also by mere tie-break points.

Joey Albert Florendo is among the top UAAP players. He has a smooth positional style which insulates him against upsets from lesser players. Add a bit more aggressiveness in the mix and he would become a formidable opponent.

Florendo, Joey Albert V -- Mariano, Nelson III [A45]
2010-11 UAAP Chess (SENIORS) FEU (13), 19.02.2011
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The Adamson Baby Falcons had dominated UAAP Junior Chess for the past three years, but with the graduation of two of their mainstays they could not repeat this year. Steven Dacanay enrolled in UST this year and proved to be a very efficient operative -- he played in 10 games and won all of them!

Dacanay, Steven M -- Cruz, John Paul G [D03]
2010-11 UAAP Chess (SENIORS) FEU (3), 15.01.2011
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