THE members of the Philippine Memory Team are confident of winning the country’s first gold medal in the 21st World Memory Championship from Dec. 14-16 in London, England.
The three-day meet will be held at the Lilian Baylis Technology School.
“We have the opportunity to field one of the greatest World ‘Olympic’ teams with players armed with depth, experience and youth,” said First Filipino Grandmaster (GM) of Memory Mark Anthony Castaneda.
The delegation is headed by Aurelio De Leon and chess master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. and members Castaneda, Roberto Racasa, GM candidate Johann Randall Abrina, GM candidate Erwin Balines, Christopher Carandang, Cristine Barao, Anne Bernadette Bonita and 10-year-old whiz kid Jamyla Lambunao.
Joining them are Axelyancy Cowan Tabernilla, Ian Roi Spencer Betiong, Mary Sharmaine Deldio-Dianquinay, Ydda Graceille Mae Habab, Blessie Mae Ayalde and Princess Grace Mendoza.
Last December, the team backed by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, finished second overall in the team competition during the 20th World ‘Olympic’ Memory Championship in Guangzhou, China.
Powerhouse China took the gold medal, while Mongolia captured the bronze.
Other countries which competed last year were the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Poland, Japan, Uzbekistan, South Africa, India, Hongkong, Singapore, Malaysia, Maldives and Indonesia.
Last July 7, the team won 10 gold medals in the Mind Festival and 5th Thailand International Open Memory Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino