Lyceum, St. Benilde, RTU eye final

MANILA, Philippines - Lyceum will seek yet another return to the championship round while College of St. Benilde and Rizal Technological University try to challenge the Lady Pirates’ reign in the semifinal weekend of the 40th WNCAA tournament.

Lyceum tackles RTU in the Senior A basketball semifinals at 12 noon tomorrow at the St. Scholastica gym, needing just one win after a five-game sweep of the elimination round to advance to the best-of-three championship. The Lady Pirates beat the Lady Technocrats, 80-33, during the season opener last Aug. 1 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

St. Benilde, which Lyceum beat in last year’s finals for its third straight title, eyes the other finals seat against St. Scholastica’s College at 1:30 p.m.

Senior B battle, meanwhile, will have La Consolacion College Manila meeting Emilio Aguinaldo College at 9 a.m. and Miriam College taking on San Beda College Alabang at 10:30 a.m. The winners will dispute the second finals seat next week after University of Asia and the Pacific entered the championship outright after a four-game sweep.

Miriam stands in the way of Lyceum in the 12 noon volleyball semis, also tomorrow, at the RTU gym.

Going for a 10th straight title, the Lady Pirates had an easy time disposing off the Katipuneras during their elimination round clash on Aug. 2, 25-12, 25-17, 25-23.

RTU has the twice-to-beat edge against San Beda in their 1:30 p.m. duel.

The Senior B quarterfinal round pits UA&P against St. Benilde at 9 a.m. and St. Scholastica versus Philippine Women’s University at 10:30 a.m. Centro Escolar University is already in the finals after a similar four-game sweep.

The 40th WNCAA is being supported by Monster Radio RX 93.1, Goody, IBC 13, Manila Bulletin, Sports Digest, Muscle Tape, Burlington Biofresh, MJC Press and Macgraphics Carranz.

In today’s schedule, defending junior basketball champion Miriam eyes a fourth straight win against St. Scholastica at 8:30 a.m. Chiang Kai Shek, the 38th season champion, will join Miriam on top if it prevails over San Beda in their 11:30 a.m. match.

Defending junior volleyball champion San Beda will seize the solo lead at 4-0 if it beats rookie squad St. Jude Catholic School at 12 noon. St. Jude, toting a 2-0 card, will share the lead with idle St. Scholastica if it emerges victorious over San Beda.