Abrina, Racasa Get Off To Great Start in UK International Open Memory Championships

by Marlon Bernardino

PADDINGTON, LONDON - FILIPINO Memory Athletes Johann Randall Abrina and Roberto Racasa got off to a great start in the 4th UK International Memory Championships after making it to the over-all top 11 standing after Day 1 being held at the 4th level of MWB Business Exchange, One Kingdom Street here in Paddington, Central London on Thursday.

Abrina, a registered nurse and a sports psychology UP student from Barangay WackWack, Mandaluyong landed at No.9 with an over-all 806 championships points while Racasa, a  former PUP top chess player and "kristo" or bet taker in a cockfigthing arena from Barangka, Marikina and adopted son of Mandaluyong City occupied at no.11 place with 405 championships points.

"If I finish in the top five - that's what I'll be aiming for - I'll be more than happy," said Abrina, who finished eight in the 15 minute Abstract Images, tenth in the 30 minute Binary Digits and ninth in the 5 Minute Number, (two trials)."I'm also eyeing a medal finish in the 5 minute speed cards competition," added Abrina, who has a personal best record of 35 seconds.
" We (Johann Randall Abrina) hope a better finish at the end of the competition on Friday," added Racasa. RP Team Manager Aurelio "Reli" De Leon is hoping that the Filipino dynamic duo, neophyte in this 2-day competition gain a respectable finish. " We just hope and pray," said De Leon.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr., the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) through its general manager Atty. Jose Ferdinand "Joy" Rojas II and chairman Margie Juico, representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon Party-List, sportsman Hermie Esguerra of Herma Group of companies, PBA legend Robert Jaworski, Dr. Philip Ella Juico, Drs. Manny and Regina Canlas, AVP for marketing Cheryl Felizardo of Natrapharm-Patriot Group Inc., Filway Marketings Inc. CEO/ President Hector Tagaysay, Sebastian Chua of Star Billiards Center, Terry Capistrano and Willy Ortiz of ACCEL are backing the Filipinos' campaign in this prestigious event that was conceptualized 19 years back.

Reigning and three-time World Memory Champion Ben Pridmore from the host nation had something to say about the performance of the two Filipino memory athlete. " For a first time timer in this kind of high level competition, your score is amazing," said Pridmore. Eight Time World Memory Champion Dominic O' Brien added " Everybody has to start somewhere else and with your case (Johann Randall Abrina and Roberto Racasa), your results are pretty excellent. I am sure you will suprise many top-caliber players come to World Memory Championships in Guangzhou, China set on December."

Abrina and Racasa, playing under the banner of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-Mandaluyong, Bagong Henerasyon RP Memory Team also schedule to compete in the World Memory Championships at the Baiyun International Convention Center from December 1 to 6 in Guangzhou, China.

Philippines Embassy in London attache Cecilia Santos, Gen Ashley of OnePhilippines and ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau Rose Eclarinal visit and interview the Filipino dynamic duo (Racasa and Abrina) and show support to our Philippine team according to RP and US chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., Delegation Head/ Coach of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-Mandaluyong, Bagong Henerasyon RP Memory Team.

At the end of Day One reigning and three-time World Memory Champion Ben Pridmore of UK and  World Ranked number 8 Boris Konrad of Germany are both going head to head in the battle for first and second. There is also stiff competition betweem James Ponder and James Patterson from the UK for the third and fourth places.  Junior competitor 11-year-old Konstantin Skudler from Germany is holding his  own against season competitor Mattias Ribbing from Sweden.

A total of 10 countries seeing in action in the 2-day meet that includes England, Wales, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, Lithunia, Sweden and the first-timer Philippines according to Christopher "Chris" Day, General Secretary of the organizing World Memory Sports Council under the leadership of it’s founding head Mind Mopping inventor Tony Buzan, chess author and international English grandmaster (GM) Raymond Keene.