A challenging Season 86 ended the Lady Woodpushers’ 15-year medal streak with a fourth-place finish and made the Green Woodpushers languish near the bottom of the standings. In Season 87, both squads bounced back; the Lady Woodpushers stormed onto the podium with a first runner-up finish after sweeping all boards on the final day of competition, and the Green Woodpushers mounted a strong resurgence to secure fourth place.
Building on their return to form, the DLSU Green and Lady Woodpushers entered Season 88 with renewed confidence, finishing the tournament with commendable results—a second runner-up and first-runner up finish, respectively.
Making the next move count
For the Green and Lady Woodpushers, their growth this season has been built on constant adjustments and shared resilience. The team continues to juggle their studies alongside their commitments, while maintaining chemistry on and off the board. “We face ‘yung challenge na, adjustment, kasi we are recruiting rookies every year,” shared Lady Woodpushers Team Captain Francois Magpily. With the addition of rookies, the team constantly adapts to new playing styles as it continues and faces all hurdles together, relying on one another for support.
(We face the challenge of adjustment, since we are recruiting rookies every year.)
Despite these challenges, the Woodpushers remained more than willing to do whatever it takes to have a good campaign this season. Green Woodpushers Team Captain Cyril Telesforo highlighted that their preparations not only entailed mastery of the board but also included the enhancement of their physical and mental endurance. “Nag-add din kami ng physical training since ‘yung chess [matches] can last up to five hours, so kailangan talaga ng resistance,” he shared. On the other hand, Telesforo shared that the team turned to books in building their confidence and maintaining their focus to help them stay composed during matches. He emphasized that through reading, they can deal with the excessive pressure and nervousness, helping them minimize lapses in their moves during matches.
(We also added physical training since chess matches can last up to five hours, so resistance is really needed.)
One of the most notable parts of their conditioning was strengthening their opening during matches. “[The] opening is crucial sa mga laro namin kasi yan ‘yung nagdidicate ng pace ng laro,” Telesoforo reflected.
(The opening is crucial in our games because it dictates the pace of the game.)
Arsenal for redemption
After a period of laying down all tactics and strategies, the Woodpushers have executed consistency and a mindset that turns setbacks into success.
Magpilay shared that redemption begins by trying to be consistent with the culture and that “mindset is not always about winning, but also about being kind to ourselves.” Throughout the season, she reminded her teammates to play not only for themselves but also for the team as a whole.
For the Green Woodpushers, their second-runner-up finish was sparked by their rookies’ potential to carry the team’s redemption narrative forward. Ahead of the season, Telesforo shared how the new talents ignited their run for gold: “Malaking bagay po na nadagdagan ‘yung firepower namin sa team, and mas magiging confident kami kasi bago na ‘yung structure ng team, so may mga bagong mapapakita during the tournament.”.
(It is a big boost for us to have more firepower on the team. With the new structure, we are feeling more confident and excited to show what we’ve been working on during the tournament.)
The Lady Woodpushers, in particular, drew strength from the gratitude and enthusiasm of their rookies. That same excitement to play in the UAAP rekindled the drive of the seniors, who gave their all in their final stretch to secure second place on the podium.
Both squads grew through the exchange of insights and the rookies’ fresh perspectives, vital in shaping their preparation. Their confidence solidified into quiet anticipation, a belief that every new mind can spark growth, a conviction that helped unlock the long-sought resurgence.
For both captains, the pressure to reclaim the crown served as a motivation to leave the board with no regrets. As Magpilay declared, “Wala akong nakikitang reason para hindi namin makuha ‘yung championship.”
(I do not really see any reason why we cannot win the championship.)
Pride in play
Before the season, the teams set ambitious goals. “I expect that we can get the championship, as we were really aiming for gold,” shared Magpilay, who helped spark a strong 2-0 record with back-to-back wins against ADMU and UST. This reflects her optimism throughout the season and the team’s preparation, even as the season later settled into the realities of strong competition.
Beyond the triumphs, Magpilay also credited the Lasallian community for fueling their improvement. “We are not just doing this for the team or ourselves, but also for our coaches, teammates, and especially for DLSU,” she emphasized, noting that the pride of donning the Green-and-White serves as both a responsibility and a privilege, and this ignites a spark that fuels their commitment to excellence.
Telesforo voiced the same pre-season confidence and outlook on their finish. “If [we can’t get the championship], we’ll still make sure to finish strong in this tournament.” He further added that the support from their families and the community pushes them to work and train harder.
As Season 88 has closed for the Green and Lady Woodpushers, both squads remained grounded by the same principles and stood proud of the results they turned confidence into. They might not have struck gold, but their strong podium finishes marked a clear resurgence. Their strength, as they have shown it, does not just come from skill or strategies, but from the uplifting pride and moment they achieved by representing the alma mater and the energy that drives them to fight until the very last move.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s October 2025 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSOct2025.
