Pinoy Memory Athletes Won A Silver Medal in UK

Pinoy Memory Athletes Won A Silvel Medal in UK, Gains Grandmaster Norm to Advance to the World Memory Championships in China

by Marlon Bernardino

PADDINGTON, CENTRAL LONDON---Filipino Johann Randall Paton-og Abrina grabs the silver medal for winning the speed cards category by memorizing a deck of card in a ligthning fast 1 minute plus 20 second in the just ended 4th U.K. International Open Memory Championships at the 4th level of MWB Business Exchange, One Kingdom Street here in Paddington, Central London on Friday.

That also gave Abrina his first Grandmaster (GM) norm. He needed two more GM norm to complete his Grandmaster (GM) of Memory Title.

"Our sacrifices have paid off. We are able to put the Philippines on limelight again for this worthy achievement. I would like to thank our team manager Sir Reli De leon, our team delegation head Marlon Bernardino and of course my team mate and my personal mentor Robert Racasa."  added the 28-year-old Abrina, a registered nurse and UP Sports Science who hails from Barangay WackWack, Mandaluyong City.

"Salamat din sa tiwala at suporta nina mayor (Benhur) Abalos, cong. Bernadette (Herrera-Dy), Atty. Joy (Ferdinand Jose Rojas II) at chairman Margie (Juico) ng PCSO, senator ((Robert) Jaworski, Mr. Willy Ortiz ng ACCEL, Hermie Esguerra ng Herma Group of companies, Dr. Philip Ella Juico, Drs Manny at Regina Canlas, Cheryl Felizardo, Terry Capistrano, Atty. Sixto Esquivas, Hector Tagaysay, Cynthia Carreon, Sebastian Chua ng Star Billiards Center, Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo and Usec Jaime Ledda, British Embassy in Manila headed by Stephen Lilie pati sa tri-media (print, radio and TV) at sa mga kababayan natin sa London at sa Philippine Embassy sa London," added Abrina.

Meanwhile,everybody in the tournament was shocked when his team mate Roberto Mangaran Racasa was able to memorized 3 decks of card perfectly in order, plus 768 digit binary number in 30 minutes putting him in the elite company of players who can display that mental prowess.

"This proves once again that the Filipino can be at par with the world's best memory athletes. And with ample trainings and preparation we can even become world champion," said the 34-year-old Racasa, a former PUP top chess player and adopted son of Mandaluyong City.

"Awesome Performance! "That is the word given by eventual over-all champion GM Ben Pridmore, the reigning and three-time World Memory Champion from the host nation to the Pinoy Memory Athlete tandem of Abrina and Racasa.

UK Memory Sports Council president Dominic O'Brien, the legendary Eight Times World Memory Champion stated that for a first timer in this high level memory sports competition the results of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-Mandaluyong-Bagong Henerasyon RP Memory Team is absolutely remarkable.

The Filipino dynamic duo (Abrina and Racasa) also advances to the World Memory Championships on December 1 to 6 in Guangzhou, China.

In addition, certificate in recognition of the furthest distance travelled (6,850 miles) to compete in this U. K. International Open Memory Championships was awarded to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-Mandaluyong-Bagong Henerasyon RP Memory Team headed by team manager Aurelio "Reli" De Leon. RP and US chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., is the Delegation Head and Coach.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-Mandaluyong-Bagong Henerasyon RP Memory Team backed up by Mandaluyong City mayor Benhur Abalos, PCSO through it's General Manager (GM) Atty. Ferdinand Jose "Joy" Rojas II and chairman Margie Juico, representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon Party-List, PBA legend Robert Jaworski, sportsman/businessman Hermie Esguerra of Herma Group of companies, Dr. Philip Ella Juico and Willy Ortiz of ACCEL would like to thank to ABS-CBN/The Filipino Channel Balitang Europe Senior Correspondent-Europe Consultant Rose Eclarinal, People's Movement for the Creation of Philippine Jury (PHILJURY), OnePhilippines publisher Gen Ashley and the Philippine Embassy here in London for their undying support for the RP Memory Team, a first-timer in this 2-day competition (August 26 and 27), organized by World Memory Sports Council under the leadership its founding head Mind Mapping inventor Tony Buzan and International Chess Grandmaster (GM) Raymond Keene.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)-Mandaluyong-Bagong Henerasyon RP Memory Team also supported by Drs Manny and Regina Canlas, Cheryl Felizardo, Terry Capistrano, Atty. Sixto Esquivas, Hector Tagaysay of Filway and Sebastian Chua of Star Billiards Center is schedule to arrive on Tuesday (August 31), 10:35 pm Manila Time via Emirates Airlines.