Solon Champs Nat’l SCUAA Chess Tourney

Tigers Chess veteran Noel Solon secured a shining gold after delivering a sweet four-point victory against quick movers from sixteen regions all over the country.

Solon, a silver medalist from the National University Games 2010, sequence in advance the chess players from CARAGA, Region 1, Region 4, CAR, and Region 5, hurdling four wins out of his five games in the annual National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Olympics at Isabela Sports Complex Ilagan, Isabela City on February 21-26, 2011.

The championship win of Solon of Region 7 SCUAA Men’s Chess Team, which was composed of three players from NORSU and two from Cebu Technological University (CTU), enabled the Central Visayas delegation to produce one gold medal and at the same time, to bag home a bronze medal in men’s chess over-all team standings out of the 16 SCUAA delegations from the country

Solon, brother of 2009 Unigames gold medalist Dinah Solon, said in an interview that he is ‘very happy’ for his success because it is his first time to join and win the National SCUAA Olympics. “I didn’t expect to win because there are many good players from other regions”, he said.

He shared that his experience from several national competitions helped him a lot especially, last year’s Unigames where he obtained lessons from his matches and eventually used those as his ‘stepping stone’ to success.

Solon thanked his family, and friends, for their support and God for his guidance and gift that drew him as the National Champion.

Another member of the R7-SCUUA Chess Team Bernabe Tagulo, Unigames 2009 silver medalist, said that he was thankful first of all to their coach Mr. Arturo Gio “for the rapid training he has given to us, players. Secondly to the university for providing their needs enough for a six-day competition and lastly to their opponents who has inspired them to be more competitive for the coming more years of sports competition

For his side, Physical Education, Sports, and Athletic Director Robeleo Padernal said that the athletes who won from the SCUAA Regional meet were the ones who were chosen to represent the National SCUAA in Iligan, Isabela City. According to him, all those qualified athletes went rigid training program before going to the competition.

He added that Region Seven comprises five schools these are Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), Cebu Normal University (CNU), Cebu Technological University (CTU), Bohol Island State University (BISU), and Siquijor State College (SSC) representing the region in the National SCUAA.

Meanwhile, Padernal commented on the tournament manager who supervised the competition. “The problem that occurred involve only on the officiating officials for having incompetent and inconsistent knowledge in handling the competition,” he said.

Moreover, Padernal said in dismay that the national SCUAA is said to be like in the regional SCUAA where the ground rules were made to be impulsive.

Asked about on what he can say on the support of the administration, he responded that he was thankful for the full support given, however, he stressed out that in order to achieve more good performance, effective and efficient varsity training programs should be added in the university, thus calling the attention of the administration.

On the same light, NORSU Chess Team Arturo Gio said that he was happy and thankful to the Lord for giving the blessings of the chess team for winning the national SCUAA. He furthered that the success of their team was because of the eager and constant practice of the athletes as well as the support of the entire NORSU family.

Asked about the situation of the athletes, Gio shared that the team was doing good and “they behave very professionally and that they put in mind the sportsmanship.” He added that the athletes were given enough allowance.

Moreover, according to PASUC president Dr. Lauro B. Tacbas, "The 2011 SCUAA National Olympics provides an opportunity for the tertiary students to participate in sports competitions and will enable the outstanding athletes to show their skills and talents to someday represent the country in international sports competition.”

Participants competed in 14 sporting events that include athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, dance sports, football, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis and volleyball.

The 6-day battle of mind and strength was administered by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), with the gathering of more than 5,000 athletes and officials from 109 state universities and colleges in 16 regions in the country that include National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga/ARMM, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Central Mindanao.