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RP wins first gold in ASEAN Primary School Olympiad

CHESS WOODPUSHERS Marie Antoinette San Diego gave the Philippines its first gold medal yesterday at the ASEAN Primary School Sports Olympiad 2010 (APSSO) Chess Championships being held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

San Diego bested Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien of Vietnam in the tie-break points to snare the gold of the individual girls standard competition.

San Diego and Thanh Thuy Tien tallied four points apiece in five outings. San Diego crushed Parahita Miliyana L of Indonesia 3 in the final round while Thanh Thuy Tien clobbered former solo leader Dita Karenza of Indonesia 2.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/Chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. lauded San Diego’s latest feat, saying "This proves once again that the Filipino can be at par with the Asia’s best pawnpushers."

In the Boys Team competition, Daryl Samantila was held to a draw by Ikhsan Siregar of Indonesia 2, Stephen Rome Pangilinan won against M. Yazid Pratama Al Banjari of Indonesia 1 while Raul "Rhal" Sol Cruz bowed to Muhammad Faizal Bin Roslan of Malaysia. They finished with 8.5 points for 7^th place out of eight teams. Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia 3 won the gold, silver and bronze, respectively.

International Arbiter and National Master Erwin Carag was designated as RP Youth team coach while Head of Delegation is Department of Education’s Feliciano "Len" Toledo. Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr. and representative Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales are both one strong supporters of the RP Youth team.

Organized by the Ministry of National Education and The Directorate of Kindergarten and Elementary School Education of Indonesia, APSSO, an annual sports competition event at the elementary level, was created to improve and develop sports at an early age. It also aims to foster friendship, sportsmanship and respect with fellow athletes in an intelligent setting among the youth.

It is participated in by the 10 ASEAN member countries, namely Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei and Philippines. Included also in the competition are football, table tennis, badminton and athletics.

Earlier, Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre said "These boys are the seeds of Philippine chess and this Jakarta tournament is the fertilizer for their growth. I wish the best for them."

Singapore-based GM Buenaventura "Bong" Villamayor added" good luck to the Philippine team. They have good chances of winning in Jakarta." 

-- Marlon Bernardino