By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Kisela Knights vowed to bounce back after a rare sweeping loss during their last playing schedule in the ongoing 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) 1st conference.
After a perfect 3-0 start in the first week, the Kisela Knights lost back-to-back matches against the Negros Kingsmen and the Toledo-Xignex Trojans during their February 25, 2023, schedule.
Iloilo had a slow start against Negros, 15-6, and failed to sustain their hot start against the Trojans in the last match, 14-7.
For playing team owner Leo Sotaridona and playing head coach Hyubs Canto, this is still a learning process stage for the Kisela Knights after a major roster retool.
The Kisela Knights are still figuring things out after the departure of GM Joey Antonio, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, and Karl Viktor Ochoa who led Iloilo to several gut-wrenching playoff wins including a championship title last 2022.
Despite the outcome of the last match day, both Sotaridona and Canto are still optimistic about the potential of this newly-built Iloilo squad on the professional stage.
In an exclusive interview with Sotaridona, the Kisela Knights are already strategizing how they can maximize the talent of their roster in the upcoming matches.
They still have their mainstays in NM Rolly Parondo Jr., NM Fritz Bryan Porras, NM John Michael Silvederio, Horizon Villanueva, Mark Jossel Mariano, NM Cesar Mariano, and Fiona Guirhem.
Aside from the veterans in the Iloilo squad, the Kisela Knights tapped the services of Jovelyn Sepanton, and Cherry Bendicio, two of the most promising Ilonggo stars in the sport of chess.
“Try gid namon best namon na with this lineup, makasarang kami gihapon sa top-seeded teams sa upcoming PCAP tournament,” said coach Canto to the Daily Guardian.
Given the revamped roster of the Kisela Knights, they are still one of the teams to beat in the PCAP tourney and are currently sitting in the no. 4 spot of the Southern division with 56 points built from a 3-2 win-loss record.
