THE Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) chess team bagged two gold medals and six silvers at the close of the National University Games (Unigames) in Iloilo City.

HCDC also struck in athletics as jumper Jonash Melchor captured two gold medals in the annual Games.

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HCDC chess coach National Master (NM) Prospero "Bebot" Cruz praised his wards for putting up a best finish in the sportsfest for collegiate athletes.

He cited women's board 1 player Mary Israel Palero and men's board 2-player Erwin Tubog, Jr. who captured the golds in the meet.

"Tubog scored perfect five points. He defeated players from UAAP champion team Far Eastern University (FEU) and NCAA champion team College of St. Benilde. It's so difficult to get a perfect score and Tubog's performance was indeed a rare feat," Cruz told members of the Davao Sportswiters Association (DSA) during their weekly forum at the Tower Inn Thursday.

The rest of the members of the team are Princess Eunice Grace Aseneta, Camilo Benbente, Jane Lagang, Maria Kristine Mateo, Earl Vincent Racho and Mohamad Sacar.

Cruz thanked HCDC, lawyers Alan Cabitin, Porperio Daclan and Melzar Galicia, Engineer Allan Diez and Anton Aguilar for supporting the team's Uni-Games bid.

Melchor, on his part, admitted he didn't expect to win golds having succumbed to indigestion and fever a week before the Games.

"Nagsakit man ko pero naningkamot lang gihapon ko nga mahatag nako ang tanan sa akong pag-ambak. Dako akong pasalamat nga midaug ko (I've been sick but I worked hard and gave my best in my jump. I'm so glad I won)," Melchor, a BSBA student, said.