16 teams compete in 42nd WNCAA

MANILA, Philippines - The WNCAA blasts off its 42nd season on Aug. 6 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium with nine events on tap and 16 teams battling it out for the overall championship.

“Everybody really prepared hard this year so we’re looking forward to really equal competition,” WNCAA secretary general Ma. Angelica Dela Cruz of San Beda College Alabang said during yesterday’s press launch.

Hostilities in seniors basketball and volleyball, in particular, are expected to be a wide open race after the winner of the two events in 2010, Lyceum, took a leave of absence this year along with College of St. Benilde and La Consolacion College.

But there won’t be a dip in quality of games as according to WNCAA president Vivian Manila of St Scholastica’s College, “we consider all members of the WNCAA as powerhouses.”

Sixteen teams are competing, led by host Rizal Technological University, which will be defending its crowns in seniors futsal, badminton, table tennis and taekwondo.

“We’ve have enough preparations for this season, having participated in a number of leagues and tournaments (in the pre-season),” said RTU president Jesus Torres, whose Blue Thunder contingent took the overall championship in Season 41.

Also on calendar are competitions in swimming, tennis and softball as well as cheerleading.

Other schools vying for honors are Angelicum College, Miriam College, Emilio Aguinaldo College, University of Asia & the Pacific, Centro Escolar U, Philippine Women’s U, Poveda, St. Paul Pasig, Chiang Kai Shek, St. Stephen’s HS, La Salle-Antipolo, St. Jude, and La Salle-Zobel.

The 42nd WNCAA will espouse the theme “Dream, Believe, Achieve.” Broadcast partner AKTV will show the opening ceremonies in its entirety on Tuesday and will broadcast highlights, segments and results of all the games throughout the season.

Basketball action begins immediately after the opening rites on Aug. 6, with RTU taking on CEU (women’s 1), Poveda colliding with St. Paul (midget 1) and St. Scho playing against San Beda.

Volleyball fires off the next day with a heavy seven-game bill at the RTU gym.