Bulacan chesser claims Batang Pinoy 12-U gold

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela, Philippines — Allan Gabriel Hilario of Pulilan, Bulacan downed Gladimir Chester Romero of Tanauan, Batangas in a knockout match to claim the 12-under blitz chess gold at the close of the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the Xentro Mall here.

Both Hilario and Romero actually ended up tied for first with six points apiece as well as in all five tiebreakers used in this seven-round event but tournament director Patrick Lee and chief arbiter Elias Lao decided to settle the deadlock via the “Armageddon” style wherein White gets six minutes but will have to win to clinch the gold while  Black is allotted five minutes but needs just a draw to win.

It was the highlight of the day but not the tournament because of Dasmariñas, Cavite’s dominance of the event where it raked in seven of the 12 golds staked including the boys’ 15-under gold by Mark Jay Bacojo, who won a piece as early as the eighth move to beat Tanuan’s Darwin Villanueva, Jr. to rule his event.

Dasmariñas, coached by FIDE Master Roel Abelgas, won two rapid golds Monday and swept all four standard events Friday in an impressive show of force.

Mandaluyong City’s Ma. Elayza Villa denied Dasmariñas an eighth mint in the girls’ 15-under after she edged top seed Jerlyn Mae San Diego after tiebreaks.

Sta. Rosa, Laguna’s Kaye Lalaine Regidor drew with Dasmariñas’ Daren dela Cruz to run away with the girls’ 12-under blitz gold.

Magvrylle Chrause Matchino lifted Laguna’s team of Janine Dauba, Evita Ruth Belloso and Kyla Elona to the 4x400m gold in four minutes, 17 seconds to join centerpiece athletics’ group of triple-gold medal winners Erica Mae Ruto of Calamba and Rufo Aidan Raguine of Pangasinan.

The 14-year-old Matchino, who won the 2000m steeplechase and was part of the 4x100m team that snared the gold, went for a fourth but Lheslie de Lima had different plans and claimed the 800m gold instead in 2:21.7.

Matchino settled for the silver in 2:21.17.

Naga City dominated futsal by grabbing three of the four golds available with triumphs in the boys’ 13-under and 15-under and girls’ 15-under.

In table tennis, Manila’s Kheith Rhynne Cruz went home with two golds in the girls’ 15-under singles and the mixed doubles with Red Morison Torres.

Baguio topped boxing where it hauled four golds thanks to Kates Gacad (junior girls’ lightflyweight), Sarah Garwageo (junior girls’ fly), Liezel Chavez (junior girls’ bantam) and Jamie Talewan Jr. (junior boys’ bantam).

Other boxing winners: Mandaluyong’s Jolas Doringo (school boys’ light mosquito), Lucena’s Clark Vicera (school boys’ mosquito) and John Wayne Vicera (junior boys fly), Tarlac Province’s Benedick Quitalig (school boys’ light paper), Benguet’s Marivic Gaki Lingbanan (junior girls’ pin) and Adrian Dazon (junior boys light), Camarines Sur’s Jane Antonette Aye (junior girls’ light bantam), Dagupan’s Gearwin Flores (junior boys’ pin) and John Louie Daluzon (junior boys feather), Muntinlupa’s Mark Jacen Almacen (junior boys light fly), Palawan’s Melbert Navarro (junior boys’ light bantam).