DANANG, Vietnam ? After getting the needed rest on Sunday, Richelieu Salcedo and John Ray Batucan will once again spearhead the Philippines at the start of Rapid play of the ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships here at the Danang Hotel.

Fondly called "Jongjong" in the local chess circuit, Salcedo gave the country its fourth gold medal after winning the Boys? 18-and-under title in the Standard individual play.

?May laban po tayo sa rapid at blitz play kasi ito ang forte natin, pero siyempre mabigat din ang Vietnam at Singapore,? said the 17-year-old Rizal Technological University (RTU) student Salcedo, who hails from Cagayan de Oro City.

The 11-year-old Batucan, a son of a taxi driver from Toril, Davao, gave the Philippines its second gold after topping the Boys? 12-and-under division on Saturday.

The country bagged its third gold medal when Batucan, Vince Angelo Medina and Karl Angelo Perez topped the boys? team event in the same age group.

National Master Edmundo Legaspi, the head of Philippine Delegation, topped the Seniors Division on Friday to pocket RP's first gold medal.

"Malaking moral support sa mga bata ang pagdating ngayon ni Cong. (Butch) Pichay," added Legaspi, also member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) board of directors.

Fide delegate Casto "Toti" Abundo also arrived on Sunday.

Former Istanbul Olympian International Master (IM) Idelfonso Datu is the head coach assisted by National Master (NM) Rudy Ibanez in this Vietnam Chess Campaign, which is funded by NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.

?Naniniwala ako sa mga batang ito, dito sisibol ang susunod na Wesley So ng Pilipinas, kaya full support tayo sa mga pangarap nila,? Pichay said.

Wesley So, 14, is currently the world's youngest Grandmaster (GM).

Other young players also expected to give the Filipinos a good chance are Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Karl and Karyle Ochoa, Paolo Bersamina, Mark Prince Aquino, Leo Daylo Jr., Narquingden Reyes, John Alcon Datu, Jan Nigel Galan, among others.

Meanwhile, Doha Asiad bet Jedara Docena will lead the distaff side together with Kimberly Jane Cunanan, Rona Senora, Lovelyn Medina Judith Pineda, Samantha Glo Revita, Rowelyn Acedo, among others. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino