On November 17, 2005, a 2nd year college student of the University of the Visayas will go to London, England, for the World Scrabble Games after placing 1st runner-up in the National Scrabble Championship held last July 5-7, at SM North Edsa, Quezon City.
Two Cebuano Visayanian scrabblers swept the top titles, earning berths for the World Scrabble Championship. They are John Edward Tabasa, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science graduate, and Teodoro Martus Jr., a 2nd year Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering student.
John Edward Tabasa was the first placer in the national Scrabble Championship, followed by Martus, another Visayanian, who took second place.
Tabasa completed the 100 rounds and scored 47 points for the win, while Martus completed the 100 rounds and finished with 15 points and a 694 spread. Both Visayanians will officially represent the Philippines to the World Championship in London this coming November.
Other Visayanians who brought pride to UV for being top 24 champions in the National competitions, include Orville James Alagaban, a 4th year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Computer Science who placed 4th and Jose Marte Toroy, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration graduate as the 9th placer.
Odette Rio, the number one Word Stocker of the Philippines and the most rated Filipina Scrabbler, describes Martus, Alagaban and Michael Laput, another UV scrabbler, as the Three Musketeers of Scrabble, being young and fearless players.
According to Martus, there is a big possibility for UV to clinch some top ranks after he defeated Ronald Credo twice last June 2004 in the Ayala Open Championship and in the Baguio National Championship. Credo has been the Philippine Champion of Scrabble in 1997 and 2003, defeating Mark Nieman, the number one scrabble player in UK and Niegel Richards, the best player from the United States of America in the last World Scrabble Championship where the Philippines place 17th. They are among his possible opponents in the World Championship in London this November.
The UV Scrabble Team, coached by Marsha Malbas, is preparing thoroughly for the world series with the all-out support of UV Executive Vice-president Jose R. Gullas, the Gullas family and the UV community.