By Aimerose C. Atienza

Far Eastern University (FEU) Woodpushers and Lady Woodpushers both concluded the closing day as part of the Final Four of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 chess championships last December 17 at the FEU Tech Gymnasium in Manila City.

The green-and-gold woodpushers notched the bronze trophy in the men’s division of the tourney after a tiebreaker match against fourth-seeded De La Salle University (DLSU) Woodpushers with 21 points. 

In an interview with FEU Advocate, men’s Team Captain Hans Ezekiel Olorosisimo was grateful at how the team managed to climb up to a podium finish despite being behind DLSU.

“It’s actually parang (like) a complete turn around… For the last round, we were like two points behind De La Salle University and then all of a sudden, we were able to catch up with them and then nanalo kami sa (we won in) tiebreak [game] so we’re so thankful,” he said. 

National Master (NM) Jarvey Labanda was awarded the silver medal in Board 5, while Olorosisimo, NM John Merill Jacutina and Lorenzo Aaron Cantela all got the bronze medal in Board 1, Board 3 and Board 4, respectively. 

The Morayta-based lady woodpushers closed the stint in fourth place after scoring 25.5 markers at the end of the collegiate tourney. 

Rookie of the Year Me Ann Joy Baclayon secured a silver medal for the team in Board 1, while Women’s NMs Bea Mendoza and Rizalyn Jasmine Tejada and Women’s Candidate NM Divine Grace Luna claimed the bronze medals for Board 2, Board 4 and Board 3, respectively.

FEU Head Coach and Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales looked forward to the women’s team next season as there will be more players filling in the lineup after their stint in season 85.

“Ang nakikita ko, makukuha natin [na championship] next year ‘yung babae. May chance tayo kasi ga-graduate kasi ‘yung ibang high school [players], ‘yung matagal na nag-training sa high school, they will play in the collegiate level (What I can see is that we can get [the championship] next year for women’s. We have a chance because other high school [players] will graduate, those who trained in high school, they will play in the collegiate level),” he stated during the post-conference interview with FEU Advocate.

The season 85 chess tourney which was subhosted by FEU, ran from November 12 to December 17.

(Photo courtesy of The UAAP)