Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. bucked a slight fever after a coronavirus vaccine injection to lead the Laguna Heroes to a 19-2 drubbing of Quezon City Simba’s Tribe in the All Filipino Conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) held Wednesday via an online tournament at the lichess platform.
The Arizona-based Barcenilla defeated Singapore-based FIDE Master Arlan Cabe after 37 moves of Ponziani Opening in the blitz portion and 62 pushes of Petroff Defense in the rapid play in the top board to secure the Heroes ninth victory against two loses.
Also winning for Heroes were FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus, Woman National Master Karen Enriquez, Fide Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, Vince Angelo Medina and Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo.
Literatus downed National Master Carlos Edgardo Garma on board 2, Enriquez subdued Michaela Concio on board 3, Bagamasbad trounced Danilo Ponay on board 4, Gomez waylaid Erwin Calar on board 5, Medina crushed Benjamin Lising on board 6 while Lorenzo nipped Joseph Navarro on board 7 to complete a shut-out win for Heroes in the rapid format.
Only Lising and Navarro were able to score for Simba’s Tribe after beating Medina and Lorenzo, respecytively, in their blitz matches.
Earlier, Barcenilla defeated International Master John Marvin Miciano, 2.5-0.5, to spearhead Heroes to a11.5-9.5 victory over Manila Indios Bravos.
Also part of the Heroes’ winning team were Candidate Master Arjie Bayangat (Player), Engineer Jonathan Mamaril, Benjamin Dy and David Nithyananthan (Team Owner/Manager).
The Laguna Heroes look to extend their winning streak Saturday night when they face Cebu and Cordova.
