WNCAA kicks off Saturday

Rizal Technological University (RTU) will defend five senior titles while host De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ), winner of four events last year, will lead the cast of the 43rd season of the Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) which opens its new season on Saturday at Philsports Arena in Pasig.

A total of 18 schools will dispute championships in badminton, basketball, cheerleading/cheerdance (midgets), futsal, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and new addition softball, which will be played in the juniors division only.

Other competing schools are Angelicum, St. Scholastica, Miriam, Emilio Aguinaldo College, University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P), San Beda College Alabang, Centro Escolar U, Philippine Women’s U (PWU), Poveda, St. Paul College Pasig, Chiang Kai Shek, St. Stephen’s High School, La Salle Antipolo, St. Jude Catholic School and returning La Consolacion College Manila and Assumption.

RTU topped volleyball, futsal, table tennis, swimming and taekwondo while DLSZ was champion in midget and junior basketball, junior futsal for the fourth straight year and midget cheerdance last season.

CEU will open its defense of its senior basketball title against PWU after the 11 a.m. opening rites which will be graced by former tennis champion and television personality Dyan Castillejo. The other senior match will pit St. Scholastica against UA&P. DLSZ debuts in the midgets division the following day against St. Stephen’s at 8:30 a.m. at RTU gym in Mandaluyong.

Volleyball games also start on Sunday at St. Scholastica gym in Manila with a seven-match schedule.

Carrying the theme “Making a Difference in Women’s Sports,” the 43rd WNCAA is being supported by Goody, Mikasa, Molten, MJC Photography, network partner AKTV and radio partner Monster Radio RX 93.1.

“We all share the same passion for sports and friendly interscholastic competition,” said Bro. Dennis Magbanua, FSC, president of DLSZ, in yesterday’s press conference at the Philippine Columbian Association in Paco, Manila.

For her part, longtime WNCAA president Ma. Vivian Manila of St. Scholastica said the WNCAA would continue to promote women’s sports.

The opening ceremony will be aired on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. over

AKTV-IBC .