Ateneo is 1st runner-up of PAYA chess junior division
06 Jan 2023
Consisting of players Liam Batnag (11-Realino) & Raiz Roxas (12-Pro) from Ateneo de Manila Senior High School, and Gian Alingog, Tiel Blanca, & Luis Gutierrez from Ateneo de Manila Junior High School, the Ateneo chess team emerged as the junior division first runner-up of the Philippine Athletic Youth Association (PAYA) Chess Tournament. Individually, Batnag and Roxas both won bronze awards in their assigned boards, Batnag for board 2 and Roxas for board 3.

Among the schools the Blue Eagles bested were the teams from De La Salle Zobel, La Salle Green Hills, International School Manila and Lourdes School Quezon City.
Raiz Roxas and Noel Miranda
(L-R) Noel Miranda, Liam Batnag, Jen Concepcion
Team Ateneo was coached by Ildefonso Datu and Joann Datu for the PAYA tournament, which was held on September 24 & and October 8, 2022 at La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong.