UNC Greyhound OL tournament, muling idinaos 2022 PVL Conference set to happen this February; Various teams clinch their initial strategies

UNC Greyhound OL tournament muling idinaos

BY CHAREY MAE ALVARADO Sa ikalawang pagkakataon idinaos muli ang greyhound online chess tournament na pinangunahan ng UNC varsity team noong ika-10 ng Disyembre taong 2021.

Matatandaang ginanap ang unang torneo noong nakaraang Marso ng parehong taon na nilahukan ng 347 manlalaro. Sa panibagong pagkakataon, umabot ngayon sa 217 ang bilang ng sumali mula sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa.

May mga naturang manlalaro galing sa mga kilalang unibersidad ng bansa tulad ng University of the East, University of Northern Philippines, Holy Cross of Davao College, Negros Occidental High School, University of Santo Tomas, Cagayan National High School, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Cordilleras, Saint Paul University, Bulan National High School, at University of Baguio.

Tulad ng nakaraan, ginanap ang laro sa online platform na lichess.org. Ang nasabing torneo ay naglalayong magudyok sa mga batang manlalaro na maging mahusay hindi lamang sa akademya kundi pati na rin sa palakasan, bumuo ng mabuting koneksyon at sportsmanship sa kapwa kalahok, at higit sa lahat pahusayin ang analytical skills ng mga manlalaro.

Sa humigit-kumulang alawandaang manlalaro, pumili ng top 20 kung saan ang ginawarang kampeon ay si Nitzan Steinberg, at Alekhine Nouri at Airel Santander naman para sa una’t ikalawang pwesto. Mayroon ding ginawad sa Top School Scorer na naiuwi ni Christian Mark Daluz, Top Performing UNC Varsity —Joseph Mendoza II, Top Open Lady— Kylen Joy Mordido, Top Open Senior - Cris Adgardo, Top Open Kiddie—Trina Mhariz, Top Bicol—Rommel Valdez, Top Bicol Kiddie—Jervy Angelo Briones, Top Bicol Lady - Juzeth Marielle Agne at sa Top Bicol Senior si Carlo Lorena. Maliban dito, may napili ring 15 lucky viewers bilang tanda ng pagkalugod sa mga sumubaybay.

Nagpasalamat naman si Joseph Salazar, Chess Team Captain, na nakapanayam online, sa lahat ng mga tao sa likod ng matagumpay na paligsahang kanilang hinawakan, “The enthusiastic organizers who gave life to the live stream of the tournament by providing them with fun terms but great help in developing the skills of the players and all the reasons why this tournament was a success, in various departments from the dearest president to our players, thank you all very much.” [Salamat sa inyong lahat—sa mga masisigasig na organizer na nagbigaybuhay sa live stream dahil sa magaan at masayang mga tuntunin, ngunit malaking tulong sa pagpapaunlad ng kakayahan ng mga manlalaro; at sa lahat ng mga nagpatagumpay sa larong ito, sa iba’t ibang department mula sa pinakamamahal na presidente hanggang sa ating mga kalahok.]

Ayon pa kay Salazar, “Once a chess player always a chess player. The players became respectful of the rules enforced by the tournament [and] they gladly understood and followed them.” [Ang isang manlalaro ng chess ay mananatiling manlalaro. Iginalang, inintindi, at sinunod ng mga sumali ang mga alituntunin ng paligsahan.]

Tulad niya, nagpapasalamat din si Liberty De vela, Team Captain, kay Mark Angelo Godino ng Mobile Chess Club of the Philippines (MCCPH), sa kanilang mga tagapagsanay na sina Glennen Artuz, Mia San Lorenzo at Sports Director, Roel Rosales, at lalo na sa mga naglaro at nagpamalas ng galing sa kompetisyon.

Kabilang din sa mga nag-organisa ang MCCPH.

2022 PVL Conference set to happen this February; Various teams clinch their initial strategies BY RACHELLE PAJA

As part of each team’s preparation before the much awaited 2022 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season coming this February, various competing teams contrive with their new set of line ups shuffling its players left and right during the offseason.

The newly named PLDT High Speed Hitters will open this era with a new and fresh selection retaining four players.

Along with the new head coach, George Pascua replacing Roger Gorayeb, High Speed Hitters also signed star players Mika Reyes, Jules Samonte, Heather Guino-o, Dell Palomata, Jovie Prado, Jessey De Leon, and Mean Mendrez together with 2016 Shakey’s V-League Best Setter Wendy Semana and Reigning Best Libero Kath Arado, will also be part of the PLDT High Speed Hitters this season.

Meanwhile, The Choco Mucho Flying Titans added Des Cheng, Isa Molde, Aduke Ogunsanya, Thang Ponce, Jem Ferrer and Cherry Nunag to its already-loaded selection.

Cheng is a leader and an all round player graduated from De La Salle University, a powerhouse team in the UAAP Volleyball scene. She played for the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers since 2016 having four titles with the said team.

On the other hand, Petro Gazz Angels bid farewell to its nine star players keeping five from its original line up while the team signed Yeye Gabarda, MJ Phillips, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Bang Pineda, Cienne Cruz, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng and Nicole Tiamzon.

One of the new recruits, Aiza MaizoPontillas, a former UST Growling Tigress, has established herself in the volleyball scene as a national team player for several years as she started international career in 2014 getting bronze in the 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix.

After a dismaying debut in the league, Cignal HD Spikers has decided to load up for the upcoming season signing former Petro Gazz Angels’ Ces Molina, Ria Meneses, and Jerrili Malabanan, together with ex-PLDT middle blocker Marist Layug and former Sta. Lucia quicker Glaudine Troncoso.

The veteran and San Beda College alumnus Ces Molina adds to the seasoned outside hitters like Rachel Anne Daquis and Fiola Ceballos.

As part of their plan, HD Spikers also recruits Graze Bombita, Gel Cayuna, Angeli Araneta, and Bia Generals.

Furthermore, the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers composed of De La Salle University alumni such as Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, and Kim Fajardo signed Dzi Gervacio and Shola Alvarez.

Alvarez, an outside hitter and a Jose Rizal University NCAA Season 93 Volleyball MVP will add up to Cargo Movers’ dominant spikes.

Meanwhile, the remaining competing teams will head to the new season with a roster mainly unchanged such as Defending

Open Conference champions Chery Tiggo Crossovers, runner-up Creamline Cool Smashers, BaliPure Water Defenders, and Army.

Cool Smashers’ star player and Volleyball phenom, Alyssa Valdez will participate this season as she goes outside Pinoy Big Brother House (PBB) and recovers from COVID 19.

“To everyone who’s asking if I’m going to play this coming season, definitely,” she said during a livestream.

While teams prepare for the upcoming PVL Season, Sta. Lucia Lady Realtora and Perlas Spiker have decided to take a leave of absence, concerning the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The league is targeting three conferences this year to start this February 16 in a bubble setup at Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila or Royale Tagaytay as an option.

“We’re looking at three conferences this year which will start with the Open Conference, hopefully, next month in a bubble set up. We have Royale Tagaytay as our backup venue in case we won’t be allowed to hold our games in Manila.” said PVL president Ricky Palou.

“We are still waiting for clearance from the IATF and GAB,” he added.

As of this writing, there are two new teams applying for the league.

“There are new teams that want to join. We are still deliberating on it and doing our due diligence to see if they are willing to commit to the league for years,” said PVL president Palou.