RECLAIMING THEIR SPOT as kings of the chess board, the San Beda Red Woodpushers nabbed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 Chess Tournament Championship after a narrow 2.5-1.5 victory over the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Chess Team last November 22 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Parañaque City.
After finishing with 25.5 points from seven wins and a single loss, the Red Woodpushers secured the top spot in the elimination round as the first seed, setting up a finals matchup against LPU who finished second with 21.5 points, four wins, two draws, and two losses.
Adrian De Luna, Lionel Escote, Johann Cedrick Gaddi, and Joshua Miguel Yongco were fielded for the team in the championship match of Season 100’s Chess Tournament. De Luna played a close game in Board 1 against LPU’s Marticio, settling for a draw and splitting the points for both teams, 0.5-0.5.
On Board 2, Escote gave the eventual championship-winning point after a victory over LPU’s Lumangcas, 1.5-0.5. Boards 3 and 4 saw a repeat of Board 1’s results as Gaddi’s match against Casabuena of Lyceum ended with a draw, and Yongco shared the spoils with LPU’s Delgado.
Escote’s lone victory sealed the match for San Beda, giving the team their first over-the-board championship since Season 93 with a score of 2.5-1.5. Along with winning the championship, the Red Woodpushers bagged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Coach of the Year awards for Season 100.
Lionel Escote’s performance in the elimination round and his heroics in the finals saw him earn the Most Valuable Player (MVP) plums while Head Coach Ildefonso Datu was hailed as Coach of the Year. Ultimately, this Season’s championship serves as retribution for the team’s silver finish last Season 99.
“Medyo disappointed kami last year. After that year, I made sure na babawi kami,” Datu shared in an interview with The Bedan.
“I told myself, ‘I will rebound for that loss,’ and nag-pay off naman because of the practice and also the players nakisama sila. Even though at least four players na graduating, sabi ni Coach, ‘Babawi tayo,’ and ayun, nag-pay off,” he added.
Datu also acknowledged how LPU is a “new team” because of their “high-caliber recruits.” Regardless he shared his preparations in facing a tough team like LPU. “I told the team to focus. I prepared a game plan kung ano gagawin namin, kung saan kami kukuha. I think they have two new players na caliber.”
In his final remarks, he concluded by expressing his gratitude, saying “thanks to the Lord, kasi hindi mangyayari ‘to kung hindi sa kaniya.”