San Beda NCAA overall champ; Perpetual Help bags cheerdance title

MANILA, Philippines—San Beda’s supremacy isn’t limited to basketball alone.

Buoyed by victories in table tennis, football and swimming, San Beda bagged the general championship for the second straight year Friday at the close of the NCAA Season 87.

The Lions, who also posted runner-up finishes in men’s volleyball and women’s taekwondo, amassed 435.5 points to edge St. Benilde (427) and Letran (395.5) for the crown.

San Beda’s conquest was announced Friday during the NCAA closing ceremonies at the FilOil Flying V Arena, where host Perpetual Help captured the cheerdance crown.

Executing their routine with grace and precision, the Altas Perps Squad tallied 335 points to best a strong field for the P100,000 prize.

It was Perpetual Help’s sixth title since 2004, when the league started holding the cheerdance competition. Mapua wound up second with 304, while Letran finished third.

Jose Rizal U retained its track and field title at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Thursday with a whopping 740 points.

John Albert Mantua, who bagged a gold and a pair of silver medals, took the Most Outstanding Athlete honor.

“Its a proud feeling; we’re delighted with the performance of our athletes,” said Jose Rizal’s NCAA management committee representative Paul Supan, whose track and field coaching staff is composed of Rosito Andaya, Elma Muros-Posadas and Jojo Posadas.

Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Mervin Guarte of San Sebastian emerged as the most bemedalled athlete with four wins, two of them in the 1,500m and 3,000m races.

The Blazers topped women’s table tennis, chess, women’s taekwondo and finished second in lawn tennis, men’s table tennis, men’s taekwondo swimming and football.

The Knights reigned supreme in lawn tennis, while posting bridesmaid finishes in women’s volleyball andwomen’s beach volleyball.

San Sebastian nailed its third straight junior division overall title with 258.5 points.