PAPANGUNAHAN ng pitong taong gulang na si Al-Basher “Basty” Buto ang koponan ng Province ng Rizal sa 2017 Cluster Meet Chess Tournament para sa elementary at high school division na magbubukas sa Lunes sa Marikina City.
Si Buto ang maglalaro sa top board ng Province of Rizal elementary boys team.
Nasa board 2 naman si Mark Joseph Barbosa, ang nakababatang kapatid ni Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa.
Maglalaro naman sina Cielo Hernandez at Irish Gelua para sa elementary girls division; Kenneth Gelua at Chester Niel Reyes para sa high school boys division; Rohanisah Buto at Janna Ledj Barcenas para sa high school girls division.
Kilala sa tawag na Basty sa mundo ng chess, si Al-Basher ay grade 2 pupil ng Faith Christian School sa Cainta, Rizal. Ang pamilya at angkan niya ay galing naman ng Marawi City.
Si Basty ay sariwa pa sa pagkopo ng limang ginto at isang pilak na medalya sa 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nation Age Group Chess Championship na ginanap sa Grand Darul Makmur Hotel sa Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia mula November 26 hanggang December 3.
Tinapos ng Team Philippines ang paghahari ng Vietnam sa naturang age-group chessfest matapos maagaw ang overall championship sa naiuwing 83 golds, 37 silver at 29 bronze medals ng buong delegasyon.
“It was a great honor to go against the Asean best chess athletes in this Asean age group chess competition,” sabi ni Al Basher na nasa kandili ni sportsman Willy Felix.
Kabilang sa Team Buto na nagsasanay at nagtuturo kay Basty sina National Master Rudy Ibañez, National Master Romeo Alcodia, Fide Master Christopher Castellano at Candidate Master Henry Villanueva.
Nakatuon din ang reigning national boys 8-and-under champion na si Basty sa pag qualify sa 2018 edition ng Asean Age Group, Asian Youth at World Cadet Championships.
Binati naman ni dating Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares Jr. si Al-Basher sa pagkapanalo ng limang gintong medalya sa 2017 Asean Age-Group Chess Championship.
“You are an exemplary Filipino who is determined to go against all odds to bring honor to your country. May your tribe increase as we prove to the world the real worth of a Filipino as our President would take pride in our country that continues to surmount adversities to make it to investment grade level. You make us proud, Al-Basher,” aniya.
Ayon naman kay National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) vice president Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe, ang tagumpay ng mga batang chess player na tulad ni Basty ay nagpapatunay na may kinabukasan ang Philippine chess.
“Today our kids dominate Asean Chess, but I believe that we can excel even in the world stage. As our kids reap success in the Asean theatre, it is time for us parents and leaders to dream bigger dreams. My dream is for the Philippines to be as strong as China and India in Chess. Together we can make it happen,” sabi pa ni Orbe. —Marlon Bernardino