RTU nears 15th Title

Hi guys!

Here's NM Bernardino's news report on Rizal Technology University's rare feat:

RTU INCH CLOSER TO ITS' 15TH CONSECUTIVE SCUAA-NCR CHESS TILT

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

Team Standings after round 3: (Game points, Single round-robin format)

Men's division:
11.5 points—RTU; 5.5 points—EARIST; 4.0—TUP; PHILSCA—2.5; PUP—0.5 points

Women's division
9 points—RTU; 8.5 points—EARIST; 3.5 points—TUP; 1.5 points—PHILSCA, PUP

Games today (Thursday): January 24: 5th rd (10am) RTU-bye, PUP-TUP, Earist-PHILSCA; awarding (1pm)

RIZAL Technological University (RTU) moved closer to its 15 th consecutive men's chess title after beating host school Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA), 3.5-0.5, after the third round of 20th season of State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association-National Capital Region (SCUAA-NCR) being held yesterday at the 2nd floor Conference Room in Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA) Campus in Pasay City on Tuesday.

Edsel Montoya, Richelieu Salcedo and Randolf Dalauta provided the important wins for Blue Thunder from board one to four, in order.

Montoya disposed Kenneth Sumili after 27 moves of a Sicilian Defense, Salcedo tronced Herneo Medina after 47 moves of Scandinavian Duel while Dalauta nipped Nestor Cruzado after 23 moves of French Defense.

Ocsar Domingo split the point with RTU's board 2 player Paulo Florendo after 30 moves of an Queens Gambit Declined to prevent a possible shut-out loss for the the Pasay based school Stealth woodpushers.

"Salamat sa tulong ng Poong Maykapal sa patuloy na biyaya na nakakamit ng team. S'yemre kasama din ang full support ni presidente (Dr. Jose Q. Macaballug) dahil papalapit na ang team mahigit isa't kalahating dekada na pagiging kampeon sa men's chess competition," said RTU coach Engineer Dennis Mejia.

"Saka malaking bagay din 'yung naka-una agad kami sa first two round," Mejia, referring to the back to back shut-out wins of RTU over PUP and Earist last Tuesday.

The 1997 Las Vegas, Nevada North American Open runner-up Mejia along with fellow coach Hernani Quillenguen and 1994 Moscow Olympian NM Mauro Yasay produced a dozen chess master under their watchful eyes in the likes---GM candidate Roland Salvador, 1996 Philippine Junior Champion and national masters (NMs) Roberto Suelo, Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., Romeo Alcodia, Nicomedes Alisangco, Robert Arellano, Nelson Villanueva and Julius Sinangote and heavy-weight non-masters such as Edwin Llamo, Cesar Apalla, Jose Aquino, Rainier Labay, Ronnie Tamares, Christopher Tan, Rector Abinal and Eduardo Campos, among others.

In other matches saw, Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Technology (EARIST) also post a similar 3.5-0.5 victory over Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) to climb at solo second place with 5.5 points. Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) took a bye in the third round.

In the distaff side, defending champion RTU women's team maintain a slim a 0.5 lead after a 3-1 triumph over PhilSCA. RTU currently had 9.0 points while the closest-rival Earist had 8.5 points after beating PUP, 3.5-0.5.

Deputy arbiter NM Rudy Ibañez said that Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre is invited to give inspirational message today, Thursday, 9am before the final round while newly-installed GM Jayson Gonzales is invited to usher the closing rites at 1pm.

No less than Federation of Schools Sports Association of Philippines (FESSAP) chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Dr. Enrico M. Sampang, president of PhilSCA and chairman of SCUAA-NCR Games '08 officially declared the opening last Monday at the Rizal Memorial Track Oval in Vito Cruz, Manila along with Prof. Gigi A. Manoag, Executive Sports Director of SCUAA-NCR Games '08 and other school officials.

The Collegiate league is composed of 11 team sports, six individual and dual sports, and two demonstration sports with this year's them is "Moving Ahead towards Sports Excellence." (MARLON BERNARDINO).

By the way, I knew all along I was correct about this guy who sends me love notes over the comment box. Hay naku! This one's for you...

If you know your good at something (like what you do?) then why do you have to pick on someone's blog who's main motivation is simply to self-publish thoughts and ideas on Philippine Chess? Is it because you lose some traffic for your blog? C'mon! Am not a threat here, in fact mine is just an arena for announcements, The Weekender and Marlon's news.

Here's for you: Your the best! Like that one? Feed the ego, feed the ego feed the ego (mantra is good!)

Hay! hay! hay!

Anyways, The last three rounds of the 4th Xavier Invitational Interscholastic Chess Tournament is happening on Saturday. 4th round begins by 830AM. Don't be late guys!

Above all, enjoy chess and use it to further your goals in life!!!