THE AQ Prime Cavite Spartans scored cliffhanger victories against powerhouse teams San Juan Predators and the Pasig City King Pirates on Wednesday in the 2025 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) online chess team tournament held using the Chess.com platform.
In both matches, the Aldwin Alegre-backed team lost in the blitz event, 4-3, but prevailed in rapid play, 8-6, to post back-to-back 11-10 wins against San Juan and Pasig.
Alexis Emil Maribao forged a draw with Julius Gonzales on board seven in the rapid event to give Cavite the slim victory over San Juan. Grandmaster Darwin Laylo, National Master Alexander Lupian and International Master Michael Concio Jr. scored key victories for Cavite on Wednesday.
Laylo won over default against GM Rogelio Barcenilla on board one, Lupian beat IM Ricardo de Guzman on board four and Concio dismantled IM Rolando Nolte on board five
Fide Master Roel Abelgas settled for a draw with Narquinden Reyes on board six.
Board two player FM Bob Jones Liwagon and board three player Woman International Master Kylen Joy Mordido of Cavite bowed to Karl Victor Ochoa and WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, respectively.
In rapid play against Pasig, Cavite banked on Mordido, Lupian, Abelgas and Concio.
Mordido defeated Woman Fide Master Sherily Cua on board three, Lupian beat IM Petronio Roca on board four, Abelgas routed Marc Kevin Labog on board six and Concio subdued Kevin Arquero on board seven. Pasig, on the other hand, relied on Sherwin Tiu, IM Idelfonso Datu and Jerome Villanueva.
Tiu upset Laylo on board one, Datu nipped Liwagon on board two and Villanueva crushed Maribao on board five.
“It was an intense and close match against San Juan and Pasig. Good thing we played well in the rapid event,” said Maribao.