Wesley So Cup: Northern Division Quarterfinals Preview

MANILA, Philippines – For some teams in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ second conference — the Wesley So Cup — it’s heaving a sigh of relief. After all, now begins their date with destiny. Either to finally bag that long coveted title or to add another to its trophy chest. For some, it’s trying to see how far they can go.

The quarterfinals of the northern division of PCAP finds two champions looking to annex another crown. For six others, it’s cracking that finals berth that only Laguna and San Juan have made in the past four conferences and hoping the chess gods smile upon them. More so since many key players will miss the playoffs owing to the ongoing Chess Olympiad.

Let’s take a look at the match-ups Wednesday night, July 27. 

Pasig King Pirates (30-4) vs. Rizal Batch Towers (10-24)

Pasig took the conference series, 17-4 and 12-9. Crucial in those wins was the presence of GM Mark Paragua, who is unavailable due to the 44th Chess Olympiad. 

They will still have Mongolian GM Munkhgal Gombosuren, who previously played for the King Pirates (he took over from Singaporean GM Kevin Goh who had to beg off due to the Olympiad). Nevertheless, Pasig will need Sherily Cua and Pasig’s top notch home grown crew to score the valuable points.

Rizal will also need to draw on IM Richelieu Salcedo III and NM Noel dela Cruz to score points on the top boards to give the Rizal Batch Towers — fresh from their upset of the Cavite Spartans in the play-in — a chance to knock off the top seed.

Caloocan LoadManna Knights (28-6) vs. Quezon City Simba’s Tribe (12-22)

Caloocan will be missing IM Paulo Bersamina due to the Olympiad. With Bersamina in the lineup, they handled QC twice in the eliminations by the score of 14-7.

Does Bersamina’s absence mean IM Chito Garma will move up to Board 1 where he will either face their import Singaporean Wagish Kumar Rai, Ricky Echala or Noel Jay Estacio?

Quezon City will need max points from Michaela Concio, Freddie Talaboc and Kristian Cristobal if they want to compete with surging Caloocan.

San Juan Predators (27-7) vs. Cagayan Kings (19-15)

San Juan took the conference series, 13-8 and 17-4. The Predators will be missing WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, who is in India for the Olympiad. Mary Segarra will be taking her slot in tonight’s games where she will be matched up against Cagayan’s April Joy Ramos.

The last time these two women met, Ramos took all three points. Segarra will need to battle Ramos if she wants to give San Juan a chance to pulling this off.

The Predators have not been themselves this Wesley So Cup. Aside from incomplete lineups, they have been frustrated by the poor play of some members.

Cagayan is no spring chicken. They have been on an upswing since the start of this second season of PCAP. During the All-Filipino Cup, they finished with a 17-17 record in the eliminations and made the quarterfinals (where they were ousted by Caloocan). 

This conference, they had their best finish ever and are looking to go deep in the playoffs. Plus, they have import GM Alexei Barsov, unpredictable Jake Tumaliuan and Ramos.

This could be a tough match-up for San Juan.

Laguna Heroes (21-13) vs. Manila Indios Bravos (21-13)

Laguna took the conference series, 12-9 and 15-6. And yet, it is going to be a tough battle for Laguna. Without GM Banjo Barcenilla, they will need everyone to be at their best, which is something they have not been since last year’s Wesley So Cup.

That plays into Manila. If they play GM Ino Sadorra tonight, that gives them a double advantage along with GM Guillermo Colman Vazquez, who isn’t going to the Olympiad. 

Along with WCM Mira Mirano and Dr. Jenny Mayor who has been a revelation in this tournament, they give Manila an opportunity to advance. 

Manila has made the conference semis thrice and the quarterfinals once so you know this is a good team. 

Laguna will need to conjure that old black magic from AJ Literatus, IM Angelo Young, WIM Ummi Fisabilillah and Vince Medina if they need to get past upset-minded Manila. 

You can watch the quarterfinals action of PCAP’s Wesley So Cup tonight on the Facebook page of the league as well as the individual team FB pages.