CEBU CITY, Philippines—Four Cebuano word wizards make up the most of the eight-man Philippine team that will vie in the upcoming Gladiators World English Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) Championships 2021 on November 20 to December 5, 2021.
The four are Joel Toroy, Jowar Ayuno, Uriel Drago Cabuguas, and Gian Marcus Goron. They were selected to become part of the Philippine team after making waves in the recently concluded Philippine National Scrabble Championships held last November 6-7, 2021.
Ayuno emerged as the champion in the national championships while Toroy bagged first runner-up honors.
Long-time teammates Cabuguas and Goron of PAREF Springdale Titans settled for fifth and sixth places, respectively.
Joining them are Carl Audric Guia and Gerardo Leopoldo Onate, who placed third and fourth places, respectively, in the national championships. Completing the national team are Jan Mark Nivarba and Antonio Malonzo, who qualified via wild card.
The Philippine team will go up against different countries such as Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, Thailand, India, Germany, France, and China along with other members of Wespa.
Compared to its previous editions, this year’s Gladiators WESPA Championships 2021 will be held virtually due to the restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
/bmjo
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