CEU, La Salle-Zobel dribblers try to extend WNCAA reign

WNCAA secretary general Ma. Angelica Dela Cruz, vice president Juanito Alamillo of CEU and executive director Maria Vivian Manila; Poveda academic support head Charisse Marie Raagas and Basic Education principal Annabelle Sanchez; commissioners Bryan Tabanag of basketball and Adrian Tabanag of volleyball; and representatives of the members schools joined Camagan in the press conference. ROMINA S. AUSTRIA

Centro Escolar University seeks a seventh straight senior basketball title while De La Salle Zobel, despite the graduation of four players to the junior ranks, is confident of nailing an unprecedented eighth consecutive midgets championship as the 48th Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association unfurls this Saturday at Philsports Arena in Pasig.

CEU will open its bid against league rookie University of Makati at 3 p.m. after the 12 noon junior clash between Poveda and Saint Jude Catholic School and the 1:30 p.m. midgets match pitting DLSZ and St. Paul College Pasig.

First-time host Poveda College will lead 15 other schools in the opening ceremony which starts 10 a.m. at Philsports Arena in Pasig. Poveda alumnae who have excelled in their sports careers will be among the special guests. This season’s theme is “Audacia Sin Limites” (Courage without limits).

UMAK will see action in all seniors sports–badminton, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, futsal, swimming, taekwondo and table tennis, according to athletic director Dominador Lera, Jr.

Other events are cheerdance (midgets division only) and softball (juniors only) and demonstration sports poomsae and mini cheerdance (for Preparatory to third grade students).

Volleyball defending champion San Beda College Alabang jumpstarts its bid on Sunday against Philippine Women’s University in the 2 p.m. main game at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Futsal competition starts on Sept. 10 at University of Asia and the Pacific gym.

“We balance the rigors of education and sports and try to excel in both,” said Poveda president Dr. Azucena Camagan, who led the season launch yesterday at Poveda Quezon City.

CEU also ruled taekwondo, table tennis, badminton, swimming and cheerleading last season to bag the seniors overall crown. DLSZ was overall midgets and juniors winner.

Poveda will defend the midgets cheerdance crown.

Angelicum College, Assumption College, Chiang Kai Shek College, La Salle College Antipolo, Miriam College, St. Scholastica’s College and St. Stephen’s High School are the other member schools.