SBC bags NC overall title; JRU tops athletics

MANILA, Philippines –  San Beda and Jose Rizal pulled off a couple of firsts after the Lions took the overall championship and the Bombers the centerpiece athletics title at the close of the 86th NCAA season at the Rizal Track and Field oval.

The Lions amassed 337 points on victories in basketball, football, men’s and women’s taekwondo, swimming and men’s table tennis to capture their first general championship.

The Heavy Bombers gained track and field title, their first since topping the centerpiece, medal-rich event in more than half a century – in 1936.

“This would not be possible if not for the hard work of our student athletes and coaching staff,” said management committee member Jose Mari Lacson of San Beda.

“It’s a proud accomplishment for Jose Rizal because this is our first track and field title in over half a century,” said Paul Supan, who represents the school in the Mancom.

The Staglets, meanwhile, ran away with the juniors general title by garnering 270 points, way ahead of closest pursuer the Junior Blazers with 224.30 and the Red Cubs with 202.

Last year’s champion Letran ended up at second place, just nine points behind the eventual winner with 328 while perennial contender St. Benilde sank from second going into the athletics event to third with 323 points.

The Knights needed a strong second place effort in track and field to overtake the Blazers, whose disqualification of their women’s volleyball squad probably cost them their general title bid, for the runner up finish.

Letran drew strength from its triumph in lawn tennis and second place finishes in women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s beach volley.

St. Benilde, in contrast, won it in chess and women’s table tennis while winding up second in swimming, football, lawn tennis and men’s and women’s taekwondo.

Host San Sebastian, last year’s athletics champion, finished fourth overall with 224 thanks to wins by its women’s volleyball team, which completed a six-peat feat, and a runner-up performance in basketball while Perpetual Help mustered a fifth place finish with 206 points following victories in men’s volleyball and women’s beach volley.

Rounding up the overall tally were Arellano U with 191 points highlighted by its stunning triumph in men’s beach volley, Emilio Aguinaldo (152), Mapua (139) and Jose Rizal (127).