5 Davao City bets bag NAGCC titles

FIVE Davao City woodpushers -- Nephtali Batucan, Exiquila Apao, Ella Grace Moulic, Bhing Joel Gimony and Honey Grace Buenafe -- captured titles at the close of the 2013 National Age-Group Chess Championships held at Robinson's Place, General Santos City over the weekend.

Toril-based Batucan earned 5.5 points as younger brother top-seed John Ray of Doña Carmen Denia National High School placed second with five points in the six-round boys under-20 event. The two brothers will advance to the grand finals in Manila.

The elder Batucan, seeded fourth at the start, drew with second-seed John Gerard Acedo while John Ray beat Michael Gastala in their respective sixth round matches. Misamis Oriental's Jason Nabatlao scored 4.5 points to place third.

University of Mindanao's Apao garnered five points in girls U20 to also book a ticket to the nationals along with runner-up Rose Irene Aldovino of Bukidnon who made 4.5. Four-pointer Kathleen Joy Meninao placed third.

Holy Cross of Davao College standout Moulic, for her part, lived up to expectations by topping the girls U16 with five points. The first-ranked player subdued another Dabawenya Yna Krisha Yngayo in the last round.

Davao Central College's Dhona Yngayo edged fellow 4.5 scorer Zsuzsa Grace Tabudlong of Barner School via superior tiebreak to grab the runner-up honors and a slot to the grand championship that stakes berths to the Bangkok, Thailand-bound national team set to compete in the Asean+ Age-Group Chess Championships.

Gimony and Buenafe ruled the boys and girls U14 divisions, respectively.
Gimony tallied 4.5 points along with second-placer Ahmad Aly Butuan but the Dabawenyo ace prevailed for the crown with better tiebreaks.

Kidapawan's Eugene Jauhari Ambor, General Santos City's Ardyin Hijastro and Ateneo de Davao University's John Marvin Miciano occupied the next three places.

Buenafe, meanwhile, gained five points over hometown bets Ella Yvonne Yuson (4.5) and Kristensen Banguiran (4.0).

The boys U16 title went to Alberto Diolola Jr. who swept all his six games while fellow General Santos City player Andre Miguel Jorgio had 4.5 points for second place.

Other grand finalists were Cebu City's Chris Pondoyo and Jeremy Pepito (boys U12), Agusan del Sur's Allaney Doroy and Panabo City's Queenie Joy Bulicatin (girls U12), Misamis Oriental's Ronald Canino and South Cotabato's Chrisus Joshua Sarchez (boys U10), Misamis Oriental's Mean Joy Baclayon and Mary Joy Tan (girls U10), Mandaue's Jerish John Velarde and General Santos City's Jacob Aparte (boys under-eight) and Kidapawan City's Joannah Love Marie Olay and Misamis Oriental's Rhea Jane Canino (girls eight-under).