CEU targets four-peat as WNCAA fires off Saturday

MANILA, Philippines – Host La Salle College Antipolo will spearhead 15 other participating schools on Saturday as the 45th season of the Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) comes off the wraps with three basketball matches at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

All eyes will be on Centro Escolar University, which eyeing no less than a four-peat feat that it hopes to jumpstart with a victory over San Beda College of Alabang set at 3 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Saturday.

The other matches pit La Salle-Zobel, the reigning three-time champion in the midgets division, against St. Paul College-Pasig in the juniors' class at 1:30 p.m.

The opening rites will start at 11 a.m. at nearby Ninoy Aquino Stadium. De La Salle University volleyball player Mika Reyes, who played for St. Scholastica's College in the WNCAA during her high school years, will be the guest speaker. 

This year's theme is "Women in Action @ Forth Fifth Season."

The volleyball event will start on Sunday at St. Scholastica's gym with seven matches, including the 12:30 p.m. encounter between seniors defending champion San Beda and Assumption College. The Rizal Technological University gym in Mandaluyong will also be a venue for volleyball matches.

RTU, eyeing a fifth straight seniors futsal title, meets CEU at 10:30 a.m. when competition starts Aug. 17 at University of Asia & the Pacific gym in Pasig.

"This is a perfect opportunity for LSCA to host WNCAA because this is our 10th year as league member and 30th year as an academic institution," said LSCA executive vice chancellor Jimelo Tipay during Wednesday's press conference at Aristocrat Restaurant in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.  "We are happy to play a role in WNCAA's mission to empower women and produce successful women athletes."

Among those who joined Tipay in the press conference were LSCA head of Sports Development Arvin Flores, WNCAA officials led by executive director Ma. Vivian Manila, president Yolanda Co and secretary-general Ma. Angelica dela Cruz, and commissioners Eric Manalili (futsal) and Adrian Tabañag.

Other competing schools are Angelicum College, Chiang Kai Shek College, Miriam College, Philippine Women's University, St. Jude Catholic School and St. Stephen's High School.

Badminton, swimming, taekwondo, lawn tennis, table tennis, softball and cheerleading and cheerdance will be held in 2015. The league hopes to add poomsae to its calendar starting the 46th season.