PLAYING IN THE first over-the-board tournament since the pandemic, the San Beda University Red Woodpushers attained a silver finish against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Woodpushers in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 chess tournament finals, 1.0-3.0, last November 19 at Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
The San Beda Red Woodpushers looked to convert their online chess tournament championship and defend the title in this season’s over-the-board tournament finals.
The team had a strong elimination round finish, closing the contest in second place with 11.5 points, only behind by 1.5 points to the elimination round first-place finishers UPHSD who ended the round with 13 points.
The finals matchup saw a repeat of the final elimination round game, as the Red Woodpushers faced up against the UPHSD Woodpushers which ended in favor of UPHSD with a score of 2.5-1.5.
After a four-hour-long contest, the Red Woodpushers fell to the UPHSD Woodpushers with a score of 1.0-3.0, gaining the silver finish and first-runnerup award in the process.
Besides being a defense of their online tournament championship, the Red Woodpushers also looked to defend their back-to-back over-the-board championships last NCAA Season 92 and 93 respectively.
“Siguro individually, we did our best naman. Talagang merong mga few lapses and siyempre, human lang din naman tayo, we made some errors,” said the team captain of the San Beda Red Woodpushers, Gal Brien Palasige, on behalf of the team.
He also commended the team for their performance this season and determination to reach the finals despite fielding three rookies this season. The Red Woodpushers also seek to bounce back in Season 100 and reclaim their chess tournament championship.
Adrian de Luna, who played in board number four for the Red Woodpushers, attained the Freshman of the Year award and finished as a medalist for board four as well in Season 99’s chess tournament. Speaking on behalf of de Luna, Palasige said that “Siguro sa kana, as parang kuya parehas kami ano nito eh…big boy. Deserve niya naman yan [individual awards] kasi si Adrian ito Freshman of the Year namin, talagang performer to ever since day one. Deserve niya yan, walang pwedeng qumuestion sa kanya sa nakuha niyang award ngayon. He gave his best, wala siyang talo at talagang bigay kung bigya, iniingatan niya ang laro niya. As a member of a championship team din dati, deserve niya ‘yan.”