Rizal Tech snares NCRAA overall title

DASMARIñAS, Cavite, Philippines – Rizal Technological University emerged as the overall champion of the 18th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) season.

After RTU ruled women’s volleyball, shuttlers from the Mandaluyong-based university got the needed points over the weekend when they swept the men’s and women’s badminton titles.

This earned RTU a total of 149 points when matches ended at the Ugnayang La Salle gymnasium on the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas campus.

DLSU-Dasmariñas wound up second with 136 points after clinching the men’s indoor and beach volleyball crowns, the men’s and women’s chess honors and the men’s table tennis plum.

Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite, which settled for the runner-up honors in women’s badminton, was third with 72 points in this event supported by Mikasa and Molten balls.

The Blue Thunder, led by Lemuel Ilanan, Joey Salampaso and the pair of Joel Querubin and Efren Celis, took the men’s badminton championship after they turned back La Salle-Dasmariñas, 2-1, in the finals.

The Lady Thunder, getting a big boost from the heroics of Jubel Avila, Joan Lontoc, Diane Romero and Sarah Catayud, outplayed DLSU-Dasmariñas in the women’s side.

Over at the DLSU-Health Sciences Institute, DLSU-D Patriots spikers Alnakran Abdilla and Melville Fabro turned back Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners bets Rowell Camisin and Alsali Pajiji, 18-21, 21-15, 15-11, for the men’s crown.

Lady Patriots pair Jennifer Manzano and Satchel Senupe held off RTU bets Jessa Aranda and Julienne Abat, 21-10, 21-11, for the women’s championship.

DLSU-D claimed the men’s chess crown with seven points behind the gold-medal wins of Genesis Ignacio, Ephraim Maliam and Francis Ricasio.

The Lady Patriots, backstopped by Rio Blanco Manalo, Charmae Maranilla and Alyssa Cueno, finished with 4.5 points.