Casa Ilongga rules PICPA team chess tourney

CEBU, Philippines - Casa Ilongga scored a 4-0 shutout of City Hall, to edge ertswhile leaders Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Team Mayor Boen Cabahug and rule the two-day PICPA Chess Team Championship at the Deep Blue Cafe in SM City-Cebu over the weekend. 

Casa Ilongga, powered by team captain Rodrigo Ababat, Richard Natividad, Jimmy Ty, Jr.,  and Ceferino Visco, tallied 19 points to nip Team Mayor Boen Cabahug by just half a point.

After leading for six rounds, early favorite DPWH bannered by veterans Rommel Ganzon and Erwin Ababat settled for only third place with 17.5 points.

BIR-Balbona manned by Merben Roque, Venancio Loyola, John and Jess Balbona took the fourth place honors with 16.5 points followed by Team Hortelano with 14.5.

BIR-Ivan Quijano wound up sixth with 9.5 points.  Rounding up the top eight finishers were the Cebu City Hall led by Anthony Makinano with 9 points and the University of San Carlos with 7.5 points. 

Casa Ilongga President and CEO Raffy Uytiepo, who was physical conditioning coach of the Philippine Chess Team to the 1992 World Olympiad, recieved the championship trophy and rendered an inspirational talk. (PR)(FREEMAN)