By Rey Bancod
The Philippines struck on the lower boards to whip Ecuador, 3-1, Thursday and climbed into a share of 13th place going into the final round of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.
International Masters Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Haridas Pascua won their matches while Grandmasters Julio Catalino Sadorra and John Paul Gomez settled for draws in the first two boards.
The Filipinos now have 14 points, three points behind co-leaders United States and China.
In women’s play, the Philippines absorbed a 2.5-1.5 defeat to Moldova, skidding to
The women’s team lost in both ends of the table with WGM Janelle Mae Frayna going down to WIM Diana Baciu and WIM Bernadette Galas bowing to WFM Paula-Alexandra Gitu.
WFM Shania Mae Mendoza halved the point with IM Svetlana Petrenko in board three.
WIM Catherine Secopito, playing black, was the lone winner, whipping WFM Olga Hincu in the second board.
The Filipinas skidded to a tie for 43rd place. They get a chance to improve their standing when they take on Australia on Saturday in the final round.
Since slumping to a share of 101st place following three straight losses, the Filipinos have stormed back into the contest with five consecutive wins.
Garcia, the hero in the team’s narrow win over Zambia Wednesday, clobbered FM Kevin Noboa with black while Pascua disposed of Miguel Munoz Sanchez.
Pascua is the team’s top scorer so far with 7 points on six wins against one loss and two draws.
Sadorra and Gomez drew their matches with GM Carlos Matamoros Franco and IM Christian Barros Rivadeneira.
The Filipinos, however, face Southeast Asian rival Vietnam in the final round.
