Letran Chess team makes their debut at the NCAA chess tourney earlier with head coach Roland Perez and athletics moderator Rev. Fr. Victor Calvo OP. Photo by Angela Davocol.
The Letran chess team came out triumphant in its NCAA Season 93 opening campaign, dominating both the juniors' and seniors' division against Mapua University on Sunday at the Jose P. Laurel Freedom Hall in Lyceum of the Philippines University.
The defending champions Letran Squires swept all of its matches as Melito Ocsan, Eric Yap, Mark Daluz, and Manolo Martinez all defeated their Mapuan counterparts for a 4-0 slate.
The Knights, on the other hand, only succumbed one loss in its first four matches. Kenneth Baltazar, Lian Destura, and team captain Marco Mabasa all came out victorious.
Unfortunately, Joshua Berdadero fell at the hands of former Squire now-Cardinal Dave Cabida.
"Nagbunga na 'yung mga training namin," said Mabasa. "Sa seniors, although may talo, alam naman namin na babawi siya (Berdadero)."
Berdadero, who didn't suit up for two years due to eligibility concerns, admitted that he became complacent in the mid-game.
"'Yung mga kalagitnaan naman, parang okay naman ako, nakaluwag-luwag naman," he said, adding, "Then 'yung time na equal na 'yung piyesa, pinagpalit-palit na niya, doon na ko pinanghinaan ng loob kasi wala na kong maigalaw eh," he admitted.
The third year Operations Management student though, was quick to shrug off the loss, knowing that it's only his first match since 2015, and that the whole team performed well.
"Paghahandaan ko pa 'yung opening (strategy) ko, tapos magfo-focus din ako sa mga idea na kulang sa akin," he said.
Meanwhile, head coach Roland Perez kept his feet on the ground despite the team's stellar start to the season.
"Good. Pero still a long tournament to say how good the first performance was," said Perez.
Letran will face Jose Rizal University (JRU) on August 12 at the same venue.
When asked about the next opponent, Perez is uncertain with how JRU will play out this season.
However, he insisted that they cannot be complacent because all teams are stepping-up this year, saying, "Wala naman kaming ina-underestimate. maaaring sa juniors aangat kami. Sa seniors may mga bago silang (JRU) recruits so di ko alam kung gaano kalaki pa yung advantage nila, so let's wait and see."