Thursday, April 2, 2009

RP's preparation for Asian Indoor Games begins

MANILA, Philippines - Seventh seed Silverio Abasolo topped the Region IX elimination for the Philippine team to the third Asian Indoor Games on Tuesday at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel in Dapitan City.


Abasolo finished in a three-way tie for first place with fifth seed Michael Pinar and top seed Raymond Salcedo with 5.5 points in this three-day regional qualifier.

Abasolo, Pinar and Salcedo lead seven other players to the national semifinals to be held in Manila on Aug. 4-8 to determine the country's representatives to the third Asian Indoor Games scheduled in Halongbay, Vietnam later this year.

Also making it were Maximo Ramos Jr., Marlon Fernando, Abdullian Agga and Samson Lim Sr., who finished with five points; Martin Sean Kwan and Joseph Gregana, who wound up with 4.5 points; and Omar Gonzales, who finished with four points.

NCFP president/chairman Prospero “Butch" Pichay said the next qualifying tournament – Region VI -- will be held at the Cabagnot Training Center in Kalibo, Aklan on April 16-20. The tournament will be held simultaneously with the national age-group and national junior championships to be held in the same Visayas province.

The other regional eliminations are: Region I in Dagupan City, May 2-4; Region III in Balanga, Bataan, May 9-11; Region IV in Tagaytay City, June 6-8; Region V in Bicol, June 13-15; Region II in Isabela, June 13-15; Region VII - June 27-29; Region XIII/CARAGA in Butuan City, June 27-29; Region VIII – July 4-6; Region XI – July 11-13; Region X in Gingoog City, July 17-19; and Region XII – July 25-27.

NCFP executive director Willie Abalos said the regional qualifiers will join titled players, such as IMs and NMs, in the semifinals. The country’s top grandmasters, meanwhile, are seeded to the grand finals scheduled on Aug. 26.

The top finishers will carry the RP colors in the Asian Indoor Games scheduled Oct. 30-Nov. 8 in Halongbay, Vietnam. –GMANews.TV

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