THEY might be the underdog but Corpus Christi's secondary girls chessers can put up a good fight against the country's best in the first ever Milo Little Olympics National Finals set to be slated on October 23-25 in Cebu City.

"Strength-wise, they're relatively less exposed compared to their fancied rivals from Manila. But our young ladies definitely have the talent to wage battle across the 64-square-board," remarked Woman National Master (WNM) Cecile Gaburno Cuizon who was able to size up the team members in previous meetings of the year-round Asset-in-chess clinic of the city Government.

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Notable among the four are the prolific troika of Alyssa Isaiah Jamaca, Maria Caissa Lumancas, and Monique Rodriguez.

Playing board 1, Jamaca had already represented Region 10 in the Palarong Pambansa to ensure there must be certain degree of solid leadership in the team. Second board Lumancas is a joy to watch as her natural attacking ability would easily make her an instant favorite among the spectators as a neophyte.

At board 3, the silent Rodriguez could be a perfect complement, being a consistent gold medalist in the last three editions of the Milo Little Olympics Mindanao as well as in 2008 Prisaa chess competition.

"She's very interested and serious in chess. I think her only difficulty for now is how to cope with time pressure," Monique's ever supportive mother, Liza Venuz Rodriguez, said.

The Corpus Christi girls' board 4 cum alternate, Lichelle Van Salgados, is quite busy with her academic pursuit and regular weekend lessons as a budding pianist to keep pace with the heavy rigors of studying "up-to-date" chess variations.

But given the break, the "more relaxed" member of the Mindanao Milolympics high school girls champion team will not hesitate to take the challenge.

"I'm even used to beating male board opponents in the neighborhood at the time nga focus pa ko sa chess. I'm just very grateful nga kusog akong mga teammates sa Corpus since last year pa so, dili na kaayo ko mahago," the youthful Salgados said. (LLS)