Oro chessers hope to sustain fine showing

CAGAYAN de Oro chess players hope to deliver anew for Mindanao team in the 4th Milo Little Olympics National Finals which will open on October 19 in Marikina City.

The woodpushers never failed to contribute in maintaining Mindanao’s third-place position since the national Milo championships for elementary and secondary athletes debuted some years ago in the Queen City of the South.

“Once again, we’ll try to give our best. We expect the NCR, Luzon and Visayas teams to give us a stiff challenge so nangandam lang gyod `mi,” said coach Chito Teopiz before the Mindanao team’s departure here on Monday.

Teopiz’s wards from Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) will carry Mindanao’s fight in chess for secondary girls (Leia Andion Corrales, Eure Faith Sabuga and Mary Jeanette Yebes) and boys (Erl Cydric Dadole, Ian Edward Amper, Genry Gabo and Edcel John Amper). While Corpus Christi’s foursome of Honey Grace Baclayo, Vanessa Magno, Bea Sophia Dupa and Angel Pabillore and Xavier University’s cast of Adrian Othniel Yulo, Gian Patrick Espiritu, Karl Francis Honculada and Reyjee Dave Bebeloni will slug it out with the country’s best in elementary girls’ and boys’ rivalries.

Mindanao bets, it can be recalled, won the overall chess honors in the first staging of the National Finals in Cebu behind the strong showing of Corpus Christi and MOGCHS players when they both reigned champions in the secondary girls and boys competitions.

“Dako’g tabang ang chess sa atong kampanya sa Milo Little Olympics National Finals. We’re just hoping nga magpadayon ang maayong performance sa mga bata,” said Mindanao team manager Megdonio “Megs” Llamera.