NCAA chess tournament on

MANILA—The NCAA kicked off its chess tournament at the SM Centerpoint in Sta. Mesa, Manila Sunday with league president Anthony Tamayo of host University of Perpetual Help and Policy Board member and lawyer Roberto Laurel of Lyceum attending the opening rites.

“Chess best emphasizes our theme this year, which really means making motions towards many directions through sports,” said Tamayo whose school is out to fight it off for its first overall championships in more than a decade.

Other first semester events are beach volleyball, swimming, table tennis and cheerleading, where Perpetual hopes to extend its reign.

“We’re not only hosting these sports, we’re also trying to compete and represent Perpetual with pride,” said Tamayo.

Chess, for instance, is looking to jumpstart its ambitious bid this season by fielding in a team seniors coach Assistio Bagaipo hopes to get the job done.

“The players worked hard in preparing for this event and hopefully we’ll reap the fruits of our hard labor,” said Bagaipo, who is assisted by Philip Medina in training the Las Pinas-based woodpushers.

“Our goal, of course, is to finish in the top four, which we know is very achievable this season,” he added.

The Altas are also breaking some sexual barrier as they will field in three female players in the event dominated by male chessers in the past, Justine Nicole de Jesus, Kris Angelique Melicano and Aurora Kim Dantes.

The other members of the squad are veteran top board player Aries Monera, Jean Paul Bagaipo and Jenwin Alconcher.

“We’ve always supported our Perpetual Help players and we’re hoping and praying for a good performance in all sports,” said Tamayo.