UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) quickly atoned for its exit in women’s indoor volleyball by reclaiming its crown in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 men’s chess tournament at the Far Eastern University (FEU) Engineering Building Auditorium in Sampaloc, Manila.
The Tiger Woodpushers harvested 28 points highlighted by a 2.5-1.5 win over La Salle in the last round to end their 10-year title drought. Overall, it’s the eighth chess championship for the España-based squad.
Skipper Brylle Vinluan, Julius Gonzales, Lee Palma and Antonio Almodal led the way in Santo Tomas’ title push much to the delight of coach Ronald Dableo.
University of the Philippines, led by Rookie of the Year Jan Daryl Batula, finished at second with back-to-back champion FEU settling for the bronze medal behind Season MVP Jeth Romy Morado.
University of Santo Tomas’ reign in chess came a few days after the Golden Tigresses bowed out of the women’s volleyball tilt with a 23-25, 23-25, 20-25 loss to reigning champion Ateneo in the first phase of the stepladder playoffs.
Though Santo Tomas also exited early in the men’s basketball last month, it ruled the other remaining events of the compressed UAAP season amid the pandemic.
Before chess, Santo Tomas also stamped its class with championships in poomsae, men’s beach volleyball and men’s 3×3 basketball for a nevertheless stellar season.
Meanwhile, Allanney Doroy copped the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player (MVP) plums as National University captured its first-ever UAAP women’s chess title with 26.5 points. — John Bryan Ulanday