San Beda, Letran woodpushers rule NCAA

San Beda downed Lyceum, 3-1, to claim the seniors title while Letran trounced Perpetual Help, 3.5-.5, in the juniors finals of the 93rd NCAA chess competitions at Lyceum Auditorium over the weekend.

FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza and Marc Christian Nazario delivered the wins on boards one and three while McDominique Lagula and Prince Mark Aquino split the point with Romulo Curioso, Jr. and Virgen Gil Ruaya on second and fourth boards, respectively, to complete the Red Lions’ successful title defense.

The Squires, mentored by National Master Roland Joseph Perez, relied on triumphs by Christian Mark Daluz, Melito Ocsan, Jr. and Eric Robert Yap on the first three boards while Alexis Anne Osena halved the point with Jerome Angelo Aragones to seal the championship.

Unheralded going into the tournament, Perpetual carved out one of its best finishes after a long while. The Las Piñas-based woodpushers finished third after the elimination round.

In the Final Four, Perpetual stunned second seed San Beda twice.