Sports briefs

Bersamina, Pascua take up cudgels for PH chessers

International Masters Paulo Bersamina and Haridas Pascua saved the day for host Philippines as they pulled off shock results at the start of the 7th Asian Continental Chess Championships (2nd Manny Pacquiao Cup) at the Tiara Hotel in Makati City Monday night. Bersamina, 20, pulled off the biggest upset of the day as he brought down third seed Grandmaster Le Quang Liem of Vietnam in 36 moves of a Guioco Piano while Pascua, 25, held fourth pick GM Santosh Gujrathi Vidit of India to a 36-move draw of a Gruenfeld Defense to lead the country’s charge. The win sent Bersamina to a 28-player tie on top, sharing the spot with the likes of GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan. Pascua, meanwhile, was tackling Indonesian IM Novendra Priasmoro at press time.

Full field for Palawan tennis tourney

Close to 200 players battle for top honors and ranking points in the PPS-PEPP Mandaue national age group tennis tournament which starts on Dec. 13 at Mandaue Sports Center in Mandaue City, Cebu. Cebuanas Bless Coderos and Ashley McKenzie banner the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under cast while Cedrix Bravo from Ormoc shoots for podium finishes in the boys’ top two divisions. Others tipped to contend in this week’s event are Hans Cabellon, also from Cebu, in the boys’ 16-U, Ormoc’s Corazon Lambonao and Mia Gemida in the girls’ 12-U, and Chad Cuizon in the boys’ 12- and 14-U sides.