PVL: Mars Alba lets her swagger shine in Akari win over Choco Mucho

Inquirer.net - Nov 7, 2026

MANILA, Philippines —Mars Alba admitted that emotions run high when facing a former team, but that has always been part of her game as the Akari setter plays with swagger. Alba sealed the win with a clutch solo block against former teammate Sisi Rondina, then celebrated by pointing skyward with a confident smile as the

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Young PH chessers bare fangs in Asean tilt

SINACABAN, Misamis Occidental — As foreign rivals continue to occupy the leaderboards, the troika of Michael Concio Jr, Paulo Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia all won their sixth round matches on Saturday morning to give life to the host country's struggle in men's section of the 7th Asean Individual Chess Championships at the AMORAP Adventure Park here. This as Woman International Master Marie Antoinette San Diego, who led the women's side after five rounds, absorbed her first setback at the hands of new pacesetter WIM Shakira Devi Herfesa of India. Grandmaster Nguyen Duck Hoa of Vietnam and International Master Erdene Baasansuren of Mongolia, meanwhile, drew their top board duel in a Queen's Pawn Game to share the men's lead with Indian IM Shrivatri Anuj and IM Ameya Audi at 4.5 points each. Anuj defeated Filipino FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri on board 2, while Audi overpowered his compatriot IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla on board 3. Both Concio and Bersamina up their output to 4 points after separate wins over IM Nguyen Quoc Hy of Vietnam and IM Miroslav Vlasenko of the Federation. Garcia, on the other hand, whipped FM Zhuo Ren Lim of Malaysia to improve to 3.5 points alongside Filipino IM and now US citizen Joel Banawa who crushed Mongolian FM Battulga Tenuunbold. GM Darwin Laylo, the only veteran among the Filipinos in the last Olympiad, was all set to join Concio and Bersamina at 4 points with his great advantage and winning passed pawns opposite IM Antonio Dcunha Viani of India. But tragedy struck when Laylo committed a so-called "help mate" blunder. Mathematically, the Filipinos have still a chance to turn the tables with a strong performance in the last three rounds. As San Diego (4.5 pts) slids to third spot behind women's co-leaders WIMs Herfesa and Bordoloi Pratitee of India (5 pts), fellow Filipinas Kate Nicole Ordizo, Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, Woman FIDE Master Shania Mar Mendoza hiked their total to 4 points after drawing their respective matches. Mindanao hopeful Ruelle Canino of Cagayan de Oro also split the point with fellow 3 pointer WFM Mohd Arif Ainul Mardhiah of Malaysia, as well as male counterpart IM Christian Gian Carlo Arca of Zamboanga in his tussle with fellow Filipino IM Ronald Bancod for the 2.5 pointers. In the Challenger's side, Davao bet Irwin Aton surprised the formerly unbeaten Kevin Morano of Kalibu, Aklan to grab the solo lead at 5.5 points going into the last 3 rounds.