San Juan vs Pasig, Toledo vs Bacolod in PCAP

The PCAP All-Filipino Conference Final Four cast is complete.

Top favorites San Juan Predators slammed the door on AQ Prime Cavite Spartans, 15-6, 10-11, and 2-1 in Armageddon, while Pasig Pirates eliminated back-to-back champions Manila Load Manna Knights, 13.5-7.5, 10-11 and 3-0 in Armageddon in a pair of heart-stopping duels in the Northern Conference.

Toledo-Xignex Trojans bested Iloilo Kisela Knights, 13-8, 16-5, while Bacolod Blitzers stunned Camarines Soaring Eagles, 11-10, 10.5-10.5 and 3-0 in Armageddon in the Southern Conference.

The victories set up San Juan against Pasig and Toledo against Bacolod in the finals of their respective conferences on Saturday, May 10.

GM Rogelio Barcenilla outduelled GM Darwin Laylo, while Karl Victor Ochoa edged IM Michael Concio, Jr. to clinch a 2-1 victory for San Juan over Cavite.

Roel Abelgas was the lone winner for Cavite as he defeated Julius Gonzales in their board three encounter.

Pasig leaned on Kevn Arquero, who defeated IM Chito Garma; Sherwin Tiu, who outwitted Daryl Smantila; and Marc Kevin Labog, who upset David Elorta, for 3-0 victory over Manila.

Actually, San Juan defeated Cavite, 15-6, in the first of their two-match encounter with Barcenilla edging Laylo, 2-1; Ochoa beating Bob Jones Liwagon and Noel dela Cruz, 2-1; and Ricardo de Guzman downing Alex Lupian, 2-0.

But Cavite struck back in the second set, 11-10, with Kylen Joy Mordido, Abelgas, Concio. and Lupian delivering two points apiece on rapid encounters.

Pasig also took the first set over Manila, 13.5-7.5, on victories by Tiu over Melito Ocsan and Samantila (3-0), Rowelyn Acedo over Shania Mae Menodza (2-1) and Mark Kevin Labog over Jhulo Goloran and Ocsan (3-0).

Manila, however, battled back to take the second set, 11-10, with Genghis Imperial, Ocsan and Samantila running away with 2-0 victories on the lower boards.

Bacolod was the third Armageddon winner for the night with Danny Mangao, Ted Ian Montoyo and Edsel Montoya winning over Samson Lim, IM Angelo Young and Giovanni Mejia in theri playoff encounters.

PCAP, the country’s first and only professional chess league, is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria and Chairman Michael Angelo Chua.

The prestigious 16-team, two-division tournament is supported by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land and PCWorx.