New kid in town

CEBU, Philippines -  "New Kid in Town" is an Eagles smash hit in the late seventies.  Well,  it could just be the right monicker for Team Casa Ilongga who upstaged veteran team in the PICPA Chess Team Tournament held the other week at Deep Blue Cafe at SM City, North Reclamation.  Even as I was unpacking my bags after arriving from a one month  and a half sojourn in the United States, CPA Rodrigo Ababat told me we are forming a chess team for the tournament.  Since chess is also part of my life, having been the  physical conditioning coach to  the 1992 World Chess Olympiad held in Manila, I did not hesitate.  I'm also delighted that  once again  I'll be  handling a chess team.  Of course, that Manila Olympiad really brought back memories.  It was really great rubbing elbows with the likes of world champions Garry Gasparov, Vishy Anand, Vladimir Kramnick and Victor Korchnoi.  The Philippine team was bannered by GM Eugene Torre, IM Joey Antonio, IM Banjo Barcenilla, Eric Gloria, and Econg Sevillano among others.  Rodrigo said we are fielding a young team but definitely we are not going to be at the cellar.  Our team was composed  of  fast-rising  Richard Natividad, Jimmy Ty Jr., Ceferini Vizco and Ababat. Top seed was Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with veterans Rommel Ganzon and Erwin Ababat while another strong team  was BIR-Balbona with Merben Roque and Venancio Loyola.  Not to be taken for granted was Mayor Boen Cabahug team, which eventually placed second, losing  only by half a point.  Another veteran, Anthony Makinano was with the City Hall team.

 COME FROM BEHIND

DPWH quickly stamped its class as it  led the tournament for the first day and was even leading until the last round, when disaster struck its main players suffered loses  while Casa Ilongga shut out City Hall 4-0 to win the championship edging Mayor Boen Cabahug with a total score of 19 points.  Mayor Boen Cabahug tallied 18.5.  DPWH  fell to third with 17.5 points. BIR-Balbona wound up fourth with 16.5 with team Hortellano at fifth with 14.5.  BIR-Quijano was sixth with 9.5 points while City Hall annexed seventh with 9 points.  University of San Carlos was last with  7.5 points.  Arbiter  Marvin  Ruelan awarded  the prizes to the winners.  Congratulations team Casa Ilongga!

NOTE:  It was not all visits to tourist attractions when I was in the USA.  As a sportsman, I visited Staples Center in Los Angeles, Fedexforum (Home of the Memphis Grizzlies)and Madisson Square Garden  in Manhattan, Flushing Meadows in Brooklyn   and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.  Of course, I checked  the New York Road Runners Club in Central Park.  I also met Shelina Clark, a hurdler  in Culver City, California,  who tried out with the Jamaican Track Team to the 2012 London Olympics. (FREEMAN)