CAGAYAN de Oro's Corpus Christi, which admits the most number of varsity scholars in the locality every school year, almost swept the chess titles of the 13th Milo Little Olympics Mindanao held recently at Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.

For the first time, Corpus Christi bagged both the elementary boys and girls diadems through the powerhouse fivesome of brothers Tristan and Kennard Ibaoc, Jeff Russel Rivera, Joshua Lumancas and Leuvin Paul Salgados and the troika of Nicole Rivera, Bea Dupa and Juliet Pabillore in the distaff side.

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CCS lady chessers anchored by the threesome of Alyssa Isaiah Jamaca, Maria Caissa Lumancas and Monique Rodriguez also ruled in secondary rivalry, though the upset finish of MOGCHS (Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School) in secondary boys division had almost overshadowed Corpus Christi's spectacular feat in the Milolympics' brain-wracking event.

“MOGCHS was able to spoil Corpus Christi's sweeping bid in dramatic manner. Its strategy worked well to upset its more illustrious rivals from Corpus Christi in Milo chess,” arbiter Jun Cuizon said, referring to MOGCHS coaching staff's decision to field its strongest player on board 2 to avoid CCS stalwart in perennial board 1 champion and ASEAN silver medalist Lennon Hart Salgados.

As the unheralded Jesse Orlanda held Salgados to a draw on board 1, MOGCHS's top player Abdul Khalid Musor and Ryan Dinagsao scored victories on board 2 and 4, respectively. Only Keith Ibaoc emerged victorious from CCS side on board 3 at the expense of Jayson Nabotlao.

"Although quite distracted, I really tried my best. It was a team competition and we lost this time around to a better and more prepared team," the 16-year-old Salgados, who is bound anew for the National Shell Active junior championship in October, had said of the stunning defeat.

Another surprise is the emergence of Merry Child School in Barangay Bulua as the new logical threat in inter-school chess meet.

Without an entry in secondary boys, Merry Child School and its "New Kids on the Block" went on to finish second overall in elementary girls, 3rd in secondary girls and tied for 2nd to fifth places in elementary boys.

Merry Child's Julie Anne Opema and Honey Grace Baclayo knocked the individual golds on board 1 and 3 and Winona Serra got a bronze in elementary girls; Carol Anne Chua and Grace Ann Mae Portarcos got the silver and bronze in secondary girls, while Joshua Agbon managed a bronze in elementary boys.

"Actually, we had the chance to finish champion overall in elementary girls but luck was on the other side of the fence," Merry Child school director Kim Salcedo said in jest.

Secondary's top-3 teams are MOGCHS, Tagoloan National High School and Corpus Christi for boys and Corpus Christi, Impasug-ong Bukidnon and Merry Child School for girls. Elementary's top-3 teams are Corpus Christi, City Central School and West City Central School for boys and Corpus Christi, Merry Child School and Liceo de Cagayan University for girls. (LLS)