Camille Naredo

The NU women's chess team after ruling the UAAP Season 88 tournament, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media

The NU women's chess team after ruling the UAAP Season 88 tournament, October 19, 2025.

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UAAP Season 88

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760939917782UAAP 88 Chess Womens Champion - NU-4599.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The NU women&#x27;s chess team after ruling the UAAP Season 88 tournament, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media"/>The NU women&#x27;s chess team after ruling the UAAP Season 88 tournament, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas and National University delivered scintillating performances in the final round to clinch the collegiate men&#x27;s and women&#x27;s titles, respectively, in the UAAP Season 88 chess championships on Sunday at the Adamson University Gym.Breaking the trend of early title clinches in previous seasons, this year&#x27;s collegiate chess action produced a thrilling finish, keeping players and coaches on edge until the very last round.The Sampaloc-based NU squad, in particular, trailed for most of the season before pulling off a stunning victory in the penultimate round and sealing the championship with a clutch final-round win.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/10/19/uaap-nu-edges-la-salle-for-lead-in-women-s-chess-1518">READ: NU edges La Salle for lead in women&#x27;s chess</a></div>&quot;The way we became champion this season, talagang dumaan din kami sa butas ng karayom kasi naghabol kami eh. From Round 1 to Round 12, La Salle ang leading. Then nung Round 13 namin against them, luckily, nanalo kami. Up to the last round wala pa, everybody&#x27;s game pa rin,&quot; shared NU coach Jojo Aquino.&quot;Yung pressure talaga di nawawala yung (kada championship run). Yung kaibahan lang ngayon, yesterday talaga yung pinakafocal match namin. Kumbaga yung deciding. Kaya nga I told my players na ingat pa rin (sa laro sa last round). Don&#x27;t be complacent kasi syempre, mahiwaga ang chess eh. Buti na lang they responded very well,&quot; he added.The Lady Bulldogs claimed their third overall title and first since their back-to-back championship run in Seasons 84 and 85. Woman FIDE Master Allaney Doroy led the charge with a gold-medal performance on the top board, earning her second MVP award in the women&#x27;s division.&quot;Super proud ako tsaka masaya kasi last playing year ko na to tapos nakuha ko yung MVP at champion yung team. Kumbaga, bago man lang sana ako di na makapaglaro sa UAAP magchampion pa. Very thankful ako kasi binigay samin ni Lord yun na magchampion kami ulit after two seasons,&quot; said Doroy, who also won a pair of MVP honors while anchoring NU Nazareth School in the girls&#x27; division during Seasons 81 and 82.Fellow Lady Bulldog Jersey Marticio earned Rookie of the Year honors with a silver medal on Board 2, while Kyla Dalagan secured a silver on Board 4.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760939944483UAAP 88 Chess Mens Champion - UST -4700.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The UST men&#x27;s chess team after ruling the UAAP Season 88 tournament, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media"/>The UST men&#x27;s chess team after ruling the UAAP Season 88 tournament, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media</div>In the men&#x27;s division, UST dominated the University of the Philippines, 3.5-0.5, to capture a fifth consecutive title and 12th overall. Chester Reyes led the Male Woodpushers, going undefeated in the final three rounds to claim a gold medal on Board 2 and the MVP award.&quot;Sobrang saya ko po and malaki siyang achievement sakin (champion and MVP) kasi kahit wala na yung mga senior teammates namin, nakayanan pa rin namin na magperform this season. Sana po magtuloy-tuloy pa,&quot; said Reyes.UST&#x27;s Lee Roi Palma (Board 3), Mark Reyes (Board 5), and Allan Hilario (Board 6) each added a gold medal, while FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz took silver on the top board.Far Eastern University finished as runner-up behind UST, anchored by FIDE Master Marcojo&#x27;s gold medal on Board 1. Lemuel Adena (Board 5) earned silver, while Jerish John Velarde (Board 2) and National Master Franklin Andes (Board 6) each secured bronze.Completing the men&#x27;s podium was De La Salle University, which rebounded from three opening losses to claim second runner-up honors. Rigil Pahamtang (Board 4), John Lance Valencia (Board 6), and Cyril Telesforo (Board 3) finished with gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively, with Pahamtang also earning Rookie of the Year.In the women&#x27;s division, De La Salle also took runner-up honors after edging the dethroned back-to-back champions FEU in the final round. Woman National Master Rinoa Sadey (Board 3) and Checy Telesforo (Board 5) both won gold medals, while Lovely Geraldino (Board 6) and Woman National Master Francois Magpily (Board 1) took silver and bronze, respectively.FEU placed third in the women&#x27;s division with gold medal performances from Samantha Umayan (Board 2), Franchesca Largo (Board 4), and Joyce Rueda (Board 6), and silver medals from Woman FIDE Master April Joy Claros (Board 3) and Woman National Master Vic Glysen Derotas (Board 5).Despite finishing fourth overall in the women&#x27;s division, UST&#x27;s Jamaica Lagrio (Board 2), Rohanisah Buto (Board 4), Princes Oncita (Board 5), and Nathalie Liscano (Board 6) all secured bronze medals. Ateneo de Manila University&#x27;s Alphecca Gonzales claimed bronze on Board 3, while Adamson University&#x27;s Robelle de Jesus took silver on the top board.UP, which ended the season fifth in the men&#x27;s division, earned two silver medals through Io Aristle Calica (Board 2) and Daniel Tagufa (Board 3), while Roderenz Adra added bronze on Board 4. Ateneo finished fourth in the men&#x27;s division, highlighted by Ritchie Abeleda&#x27;s silver (Board 4) and Christopher Kis-ing&#x27;s bronze (Board 5). Adamson&#x27;s John Rocel Simon rounded out the men&#x27;s medalists with a bronze on Board 1.

University of Santo Tomas and National University delivered scintillating performances in the final round to clinch the collegiate men's and women's titles, respectively, in the #UAAPSeason88 chess championships.

University of Santo Tomas and National University delivered scintillating performances in the final round to clinch the collegiate men's and women's titles, respectively, in the #UAAPSeason88 chess championships.

UAAP: UST men secure chess 'five-peat;' NU claims women's crown

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UAAP: UST men secure chess 'five-peat;' NU claims women's crown

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Published Oct 20, 2025 02:03 PM PHT

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