By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Kisela Knights are ready to clinch their second-straight Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) championship title as their campaign for the playoffs begins today.
Fresh off a seven-game winning streak before heading into the playoffs, the Kisela Knights are looking to continue their momentum against the Cagayan De Oro-Misamis Oriental Chess Association in the first round.
The Kisela Knights have already defeated Cagayan De Oro twice and swept them during their regular season clashes in their southern division showdown.
Iloilo will be entering the quarterfinal playoffs as the no. 1 team in the southern division with 473 points with a 30-4 win-loss record.
In the overall standings, Pasig still reigned supreme in the northern division with 518 points, putting the Kisela Knights as the second-placers after the regular season of the 2022 PCAP tourney.
If Iloilo prevails against Cagayan De Oro, they will then face the winner of the series between their rivals Negros Kingsmen and Surigao in the semifinals.
On the other bracket of the southern division playoffs, Zamboanga and Toledo will collide while Davao will take on Camarines in the quarterfinals.
Iloilo will also seek to extend their streak of consecutive southern division conference finals appearances since joining the prestigious professional chess tournament.
