Iloilo leads field into PCAP 3rd conference playoffs

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

10 wins, no losses. The best team in the league.

The Iloilo Kisela Knights are very much on their way to add another trophy after winning the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) championship trophy last season.

Laser-focused to end the year with another bang, the Ilonggos are targeting their second straight PCAP title in the season-ending San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land Premier Association Cup after ending the elimination round with a sweeping victory against the Mindoro Tamaraws and the Negros Kingsmen.

The 10-0 untainted elimination record of the Kisela Knights earned them the outright no.1 seed of the tournament with 162 total points accumulated, a wide margin of points compared to the no.2 seed squad Negros with 138.

Total domination was once again witnessed by PCAP as the Kisela Knights crushed Mindoro, 17-4, in their first match.

As usual, it was a well-orchestrated offensive display for the Iloilo-based chess squad as GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. and NM Giovanni Mejia this time led the attack.

The duo helped Iloilo grab a commanding 2-0 lead in the Blitz category that set the tone for the Kisela Knights attack until the Rapid category.

In the next game, Iloilo went against their South division rival Negros and won in a convincing fashion, 13.5-7.5.

It was a tightly contested battle in the first seven playing boards of the match as Negros was able to pull off some wins and kept the score close.

However, in the Rapid category, the Kisela Knights surged and managed to only drop two playing boards.

This is the first time in three conferences that the Kisela Knights will be entering the playoffs as the overall best team in the league while having an undefeated record.