By Peter Paul Duran
THE Philippines might have been dethroned atop the Asian Schools Chess Championships in Iran on Monday, but the National Chess Federation of the Philippines is contented with the performance of its young chess prospects.
The 15-player Philippine team finished second overall behind host Iran, which had more than a hundred players in the tournament.
The PH contingent, though, still managed to haul a total of nine medals which included six golds, three silvers and one bronze in the 17-team tourney.
“Akala ko nga hindi aabot ng ganoon (medal count). We were expecting to win just one gold. Suwerte na kami,” said NCFP Executive Director Jason Gonzales during the team’s appearance at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum in Shakey’s Malate.
Responsible for adding two golds and a silver to the Philippines’ medal count is 14-year-old Jia Doroy who played in the U-17.
The promising Agusan del Sur native as well as the entire 15-man team returned Monday from their sterling performance in Tehran.
Meanwhile, school children of Tacloban, Leyte received a much-needed helping hand from Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) which conducted its Alaska Basketball Clinic for two elementary schools in the city hard-hit by Typhoon Yolanda.
Almost two hundred fifty students of Anibong Elementary School and Don Vicente Quintero Memorial School were treated to a nutritious Gatas for Breakfast and then taught the fundamentals of basketball by Alaska’s basketball coaches on July 14 and 15.
Alaska Power Camp coach Rafael Galos said after Tacloban was badly hit by Typhoon Yolanda more than two years ago, assistance for the improved well-being of the children is needed. Their recovery from the typhoon was not fast enough. AMC does not only aid through added nutrition in milk alone but also lessons for an active lifestyle. AMC aims to build awareness about the importance of outdoor play and sports and instill the importance of daily breakfast to support the children’s daily activities according to Galos.
