Camille Naredo

The UST girls' chess team in UAAP Season 88, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media


The UST girls' chess team in UAAP Season 88, 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/1760942506016UAAP 88 Chess HS Girls Champion - UST-4416.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The UST girls&#x27; chess team in UAAP Season 88, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media"/>The UST girls&#x27; chess team in UAAP Season 88, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas saved its best for last, delivering in a must-win final round to claim the UAAP Season 88 girls&#x27; chess crown on Sunday at the Adamson Gym.The dramatic victory gave UST a sweep of both divisions at the high school level.Trailing National University Nazareth School for the top spot all season, the Junior Lady Woodpushers put together a brilliant finale, defeating the Jhocson-based squad in a surgical 3-1 victory to claim their first-ever championship in the girls&#x27; division.&quot;Sobrang saya ko ngayon kasi sobrang hirap gawin niyang double championship. Hindi namin talaga inexpect na ganun yung mangyayari pero very thankful kami na binigay sa amin. Deserve din naman ng mga bata. Tinrabaho nila hanggang dulo,&quot; said UST coach Ronald Dableo, reflecting on their impressive championship runs in the high school division.&quot;Unexpected talaga lalo na yung sa girls. Binigyan lang kami ng chance. Imaginin mo natalo ng Adamson ang NU. Kaya kami nakahabol eh tapos nag all-out war na. Level naman yung playing field sa girls sa man-to-man namin laban sa kanila kaya naging confident na kami,&quot; he added.With NUNS needing only a draw to secure the title, the España-based squad responded with strong performances led by Trina Temple (Board 2), who went undefeated from Round 6 onward, along with Daren Dela Cruz&#x27;s win on the top board.Temple, together with Angel Po (Board 3), Iana Sotaridona (Board 4), and Kara Meneses (Board 5), brought home gold for UST, while Cruz and Mecel Gadut claimed bronze on Boards 1 and 6, respectively, capping off a spirited championship run.UST also maintained an undefeated streak in the boys&#x27; division, dethroning four-peat seeking Far Eastern University – Diliman and capturing the title in dominant fashion.Leading the charge for the Junior Male Woodpushers was Arena International Master Gabriel Paradero, who earned this season&#x27;s MVP title with a silver medal finish on Board 1.&quot;Hindi ko naexpect na ako yung MVP kasi natalo po ako ng last round. Nagulat po ako pero masaya pa rin po,&quot; said Paradero, describing his MVP award as the highest achievement so far in his budding chess career.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760942535558UAAP 88 Chess HS Boys Champion - UST-4508.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The UST boys&#x27; chess team in UAAP Season 88, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media"/>The UST boys&#x27; chess team in UAAP Season 88, October 19, 2025. UAAP Media</div>John Cyrus Borce added a gold on Board 3, while King Lanz Pamplona (Board 2), Jian Carlo Rivera (Board 4), Jude Dableo (Board 5), and Sumer Oncita (Board 6) each secured silver medals.On the girls&#x27; side, NUNS settled for the runner-up trophy after leading much of the season, highlighted by silver medal performances from Sara Dalagan (Board 1), Kayla Aurelio (Board 3), and Yaneah Morada (Board 5), while Ryien Bahita earned bronze on Board 2.Four-peat seeking FEU-Diliman rounded out the podium with a third-place finish in the girls&#x27; division, led by Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino, who captured the gold medal on the top board along with the MVP award.&quot;Bittersweet po talaga kasi hindi po talaga namin yung outcome na to. Malaki po siguro masyado yung expectations namin. Yung goal po namin is apat na championship pero ngayon wala kaming nakuha. Pangit po talaga yung nangyari samin,&quot; said Canino, who capped off her high school chess career with a third straight MVP title.Lyn Getubig (Board 4), Lj Getubig (Board 5), and Zhaoyu Capilitan (Board 6) completed FEU-D&#x27;s medal haul with silver, bronze, and gold, respectively.The Baby Tamaraws finished runner-up in the boys&#x27; division with three golds, one silver, and two bronze medals. Lance Orlina (Board 4), Ralz Devibar (Board 5), and Quarl Vera Cruz (Board 6) captured gold, while King Beltran secured silver on Board 3. Gladimir Romero (Board 1) and Arena Candidate Master Joemel Narzabal (Board 2) both earned bronze medals. Vera Cruz also received the Rookie of the Year award.Meanwhile, Adamson University completed the boys&#x27; division podium with a third-place finish, led by Allan Dolfo, who claimed gold on Board 2. Jonver Acosta (Board 3), Jian Bautista (Board 4), and Karl Ashton Fratkin (Board 5) earned bronze for the Sampaloc-based squad.National Master Tyrhone Tabernilla delivered the lone medal for De La Salle Zobel with gold on Board 1, while Ateneo High School&#x27;s Joachi Manuel took bronze on Board 6.In the girls&#x27; division, Ateneo also secured a medal via Mikayla Tusi&#x27;s bronze on Board 3, while Adamson&#x27;s Mikhaela Salvo (Board 2) and Rookie of the Year Ma. Louise Penaverde (Board 6) won silver each, complementing Crystal Sunga&#x27;s bronze on Board 4.

University of Santo Tomas saved its best for last, delivering in a must-win final round to claim the UAAP Season 88 girls' chess crown on Sunday at the Adamson Gym.

University of Santo Tomas saved its best for last, delivering in a must-win final round to claim the UAAP Season 88 girls' chess crown on Sunday at the Adamson Gym.

UAAP: UST sweeps high school chess titles with dramatic victory in girls' division

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UAAP: UST sweeps high school chess titles with dramatic victory in girls' division

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Published Oct 20, 2025 02:44 PM PHT

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