The DLSU Green Woodpushers went 0-0-2 this weekend, November 14 to 15, at the FEU Tech Building, losing to ADMU Blue Eagles and UST Growling Tigers with a score of 2.5-1.5 and 2.5-1.5, respectively. Meanwhile, the DLSU Lady Woodpushers had a strong finish heading into the final week of their UAAP Season 86 campaign after closing with a stalemate against the UP Fighting Maroons, 2-2, and ending the perfect run of FEU Lady Tamaraws with a 2.5-1.5 defeat.
Close games
The DLSU Green Woodpushers dropped their match against their rivals ADMU Blue Eagles, 2.5-1.5. National Master Cyril Felrod Telesforo was the lone bright spot for the Green and White, scoring a point by defeating National Master Jasper Faeldonia, 1-0, on board one. Daniel Lemi forced a draw on board two against Christopher Kis-ing. Meanwhile, Kris Oswald Olvido and Francis Guimalan failed to score a point against Tristan Cervero and Janmyl Tisado on board three and four, respectively.
In the Women’s Division, Woman National Master Rinoa Sadey delivered the lone point for La Salle on board four against UP Fighting Maroon Jarel Lacambra. Checy Telesforo was outmatched by Jerlyn San Diego of UP on board one. Woman National Masters Francois Magpily and Arena FIDE Master Sara Olendo forced a draw on their matchup against Precious Ferrer and Geraldine Guyo on board two and three, respectively. The DLSU Lady Woodpushers and UP Fighting Maroons pushed each other hard, but the match-up resulted in a 2-all stalemate.
For team captain Guimalan, the loss against Ateneo was disappointing. “Yesterday’s game was not expected…It was disappointing. But at the same time, we need to move on,” he lamented regarding the painful loss against their rivals.
Despite another 2-all result, for DLSU Coach Susan Neri, not giving a win to UP is the best thing that happened. “Crucial sana ‘yung game cause we’re following UP and whoever wins advance doon sa ranking,” she stressed the importance of the UP game. “Ang mahalaga sa second round kailangan namin pumuntos ka lang wag ka lang matatalo kasi naghahabulan na in terms of match points,” Coach Neri emphasized how important it is to earn every point in the second round.
(The game was crucial because we’re following UP, and whoever wins advances on the ranking. For the second round, the important thing for us is to score and not lose because we’re chasing for the match points.)
Mixed results
The DLSU Lady Woodpushers got their revenge and tainted the unblemished record of the top-seeded FEU Lady Tamaraws, 2.5-1.5. Olendo and Sadey scored a point against Mharge Sebastian and Bea Mendoza on board three and four, respectively. Meanwhile, Magpilay ended in a stalemate on board two against Mary Tan.
It was a weekend to forget for the Green Woodpushers, as they fell short against the defending champion UST Growling Tiger, 2.5-1.5. Telesforo once again scored the lone point for the Green and White against Melito Ocsan on board one. Kris Olvido forced a stalemate on board four against Julius Gonzales.
The breakthrough win for the Lady Woodpushers is a big confidence booster for the remaining rounds of the season. Olendo expressed that their draw results feature individual wins, but the team needs to hit their stride together, “Actually sa mga draws po namin this UAAP, ‘yun mga wins po namin nandoon po pero hindi lang po nagsasabay mag-win.”
(Actually, in our draw [results] this UAAP, our [individual] wins are there, but they simply didn’t occur in sync with our match-wins.)
Senior Lady Woodpusher Magpilay showed a lot of emotion after an upset against the Lady Tamaraws, “Super happy ako kasi syempre nanalo kami sa match points and of course very thankful ako sa mga teammates ko kasi kung hindi dahil sa kanila hindi kami mananalo sa team FEU.”
(I’m super happy with the win in match points and very thankful to my teammates because we wouldn’t have beaten team FEU without them.)
Hope
This season, both teams experienced a lot of ups and downs, but Coach Neri still wants both of her teams to perform and give their best until the last game of the season, “Kung ano ‘yung binuhos namin for the past weeks na ano will carry it through, but right now we’re walking with God.”
(With what we poured for the past week, we will carry it through, but right now, we’re walking with God.)
For the veteran Lady Woodpusher Magpilay, this big win against FEU fired the whole team up to want more. Olendo meanwhile hopes to keep the ground running for the next game, “Syempre may nakuha kaming momentum from this game, so we hope to keep that, and we hope to [be] even fiercer kahit hindi naman perfect game, perfect yun effort in training and during the game.” Top scorer for the Woodpushers, Telesforo hopes to finish the last remaining rounds of the season to improve their skills and lessen their inaccuracies.
(Of course, we got the momentum from this game, so we hope to keep that, and we hope to be even fiercer despite not having a perfect game; the effort in training and during the game is perfect.)
The DLSU Lady Woodpushers will be back in action against their rival ADMU Blue Eagles on Wednesday, November 15 at the FEU Tech Building in Sampaloc, Manila. Meanwhile, the Green Woodpushers look to finish the season strong as they face the FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, November 18, at 1 pm at the same venue.
