By Dwyane Harry L. Cabrera

Far Eastern University (FEU) Woodpushers and Lady Woodpushers ended their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 chess tourneys as first and second runners-up, respectively, last Sunday, October 19, at the Adamson University SV Gym in Manila City.

After clinching a bronze medal last Season 87, the Morayta-based men’s team concluded their stint with 14 match points and 25 board points to upgrade to a silver finish.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, Woodpushers team captain Zeus Paglinawan noted that despite improving their rankings as runners-up, their sights remain set on becoming the champions.

“This is not our desired outcome, being the runner-ups as the goal for every season is always the cream of the crop, but I'm sure the team will keep on improving this off-season and we will get the championship next season,” he stated.

Looking back on their journey, Paglinawan also shared how the coaches prepared them for this season and how each teammate stepped up. 

“The coaches gave us some really good preparation for the tournament for each of our opponents which helped with the team's success this season. Players also provided crucial points, whether it was salvaging for the draw or converting for the win, and stepping up when others were having a bad game,” he added.

Tamaraw Woodpushers FIDE Master Mark Bacojo captured the gold medal on Board 1, while Lemuel Adena took silver on Board 5. This was followed by Jerish John Velarde and National Master Franklin Anded, who each claimed bronze medals on Boards 2 and 6, respectively.

As for the green-and-gold lady chessers, their bid for a third consecutive title fell short, closing their journey with a bronze medal built on 17 match points and 34 board points.

Three of their gold medals came from Samantha Umayan, Franchesca Largo, and Joyce Rueda on Boards 2, 4, and 6 respectively. Meanwhile, Woman FIDE Master April Joy Claros and Woman National Master Vic Glysen Derotas recorded one silver apiece on Board 3 and Board 5.

Umayan recalled the moment they realized that their chances of winning the championship had become very slim.

“During the first game ng second round robin against UST [University of Santo Tomas] ulit, natabla yung game namin (we tied the game). After the game, habang nag-a-analyze with our coaches, sa dorm, iyak talaga [kaming] lahat, kasi after that draw, sobrang liit na lang talaga ng chance namin na mag-champion ulit (while analyzing with our coaches, in our dorm, we all cried after knowing that the chances our slim for us to become champions again),” she expressed.

However, she shared that the team never lost hope and continued to play with determination despite their chances of winning the championship fading. 

“Despite of all the setbacks that we faced as a team, is that we never lost hope. Even after we no longer had a chance to win the championship, we continued to play with the same determination, and paniniwala (hope) that we could still achieve something meaningful,” she said.

UST extended their championship reign for the men’s division, while National University took the top spot followed by De La Salle University in the women’s. 

Meanwhile, the high school team also entered the podium with the boys’ team bagging silver and the girls’ squad settling for bronze.

The teams also took home two special awards, with Ruelle Canino earning the girls’ Most Valuable Player honor and Quarl Vera Cruz being recognized as the boys’ Rookie of the Year.

The Season 88 standard chess tournament was held from September 28 to October 19.

(Photos courtesy of the UAAP Media Team)