By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Philippine para chess team captured four gold medals to keep the country in fourth place in the overall standings of the 13th Asean Para Games in Thailand over the weekend.

Competing at Rajabhat University, Filipino woodpushers finished the three-day Standard Time Control tournament with a total haul of four golds, two silvers and four bronzes.

Negrense FIDE Master Sander Severino spearheaded the strong showing after reclaiming the Individual PI Men title.

The 40-year-old scored 5.5 points to secure the gold medal, while teammate Jasper Rom took silver with 4.5 points.

Severino then joined Rom and Henry Roger Lopez to clinch another gold for the Philippines in the Team PI Men event.

With his latest victories, Severino now owns a total of six golds, one silver and two bronzes in the Asean Para Games, on top of his five golds, one silver and one bronze from the Asian Para Games.

Darry Bernardo also delivered a big performance for Team Philippines, topping the Individual B2 Men division after tallying 5.5 points to claim gold.

The 25-year-old from Pampanga later teamed up with Arman Subaste and Menandro Redor to secure another gold in the Team B2 Men category.

The national squad also added two silver medals through Rom in Individual PI Men and Kyla Jane Langue in the Individual B1 Women event.

Four bronze medals rounded out the country’s medal haul.

Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza won bronze in the Individual PI Women competition and added another in the Team PI Women event together with Cheryl Angot and Jean-lee Nacita.

Subaste collected bronze in the Individual B2 Men division, while Langue, along with Katrina Mangawang and Evangeline Gamao, placed third in the Team B1 Women category.

The strong results kept the Philippines firmly in fourth place in the overall medal standings of the regional para sports meet./ASC, WDJ