YOUNG talents from the Cebu City National Science High School (CCNSHS) and University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) took home titles in the World Youth and Professionals Scrabble Championship qualifying at the Robinsons Cybergate last Saturday.
CCNSHS’ Lear Jet dela Cruz was crowned high school division champion and also had the highest single game with 560 points.
Brothers Drei and Lawrence Candia, also from CCNSHS, took the next two spots, respectively.
Cristina Quinones of the University of Cebu (UC) got the highest single turn with the word “graziers” worth 136 points.
USJ-R’s Chairylle Bucao topped the elementary division while teammates Jangari Mayol and Julianne Faith Reyes were her runners-up.
University of the Visayas’ (UV) Bea Serad scored 106 points for the highest single turn for “quested” while USJ-R’s Lord Garnett Talisic tallied 551 points for the highest single game.
Renante dela Cerna, meanwhile, came out on top in the professionals category.
Dart Eslao and Joel Toroy were second and third, respectively.
Eslao also earned the highest single turn with the word “jointly” worth 101 points while Dexter Dungog’s 506 points got him the highest single game.
Eslao, also the tournament organizer, said that they increased the selection to the top 10 for the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Malaysia this November since the tournament is divided into age groups.
Aside from the top three winners from the high school category, also qualifying are Jessa Manigos (CCNSHS), Cebu Institute of Technology-University’s (CIT-U) Jan Dale Catalonia and Beat Datiles, Gene Montes (USJ-R), Lovelyn Catarinin (UV), Mac Nicole Baclayon of the Ramon Duterte National High School (RDMNHS) and Quinones.
The top three elementary finishers will be joined by Talisic, Kristin Siangko (USJ-R), Carmelo Arranguez (Cebu City Central School), Serad, Hazel Alfante and Lovzelle Baringian (Quiot Elementary School), Leanne Candia (UV) and Uriel Drago (PAREF Springdale).