MANILA, Philippines — Last year’s runner-up Perpetual Help Junior Altas target their first ever crown in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 94 #GalingNCAA Juniors Chess Championship on Saturday at the Mapua High School Building in Otis, Manila.
Grade 9 (Board 1 player) Eric Labog Jr and Carl Zirex Sato, Chris Aldritz Pondoyo, John Marx Anastacio, Jerome Angelo Aragones and Jose Daniel Abucejo of coach Roel Abelgas and assistant coach Kenneth Martin Rovillos are the individual board players for the Las Piñas-based team.
Altalettes chess team entered the Final Four by topping the elims over LPU, Letran and San Beda College. Junior Altas beat SBC in crossover semis for the second straight year via 2-2 winner by Board 1 courtesy of top seed Eric Layog Jr.
The Tony Tamayo-owned chess team will face erstwhile rival LPU-Gen. Trias campus Pirates. The two teams drew, 2-2, on the opening day of tournament.
“Umaasa ako na makukuha ng Junior Altas ang korona at iuuwi nila ito sa Las Piñas,” multi-titled coach and Perpetual sports director Sinfronio ‘Sammy’ Acaylar said.