WNCAA welcomes new, returning members in 40th season

The Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) welcomed a new and returning member when the country’s oldest and biggest women's league opens its 40th season on Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome. St. Jude Catholic School became the 18th member school after St. Francis of Assisi College and World Citi Colleges will not be playing this season after failing to field teams in the eight events to be contested. Chiang Kai Shek College, one of the league’s founding members, is also returning this season. St. Jude will compete in the midgets and juniors levels while Chiang Kai Shek targets to win back the junior basketball championship it bagged two years ago. Defending senior A champion Lyceum starts its title-retention bid against Rizal Technological University in one of Saturday's opening matches at the Cuneta Astrodome at 3:30 p.m. US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is expected to grace the opening ceremonies which starts at 12 noon. Angelicum College opens the games when it faces St. Scholastica's College in the 2 p.m. juniors' match. Lyceum was the senior A basketball champion for the last three years while the Lady Pirates’ volleyball team have won the crown for the last nine years. “It is time again to showcase the skills of our finest female athletes and we can assure our supporters of the highest quality of play and sportsmanship," said WNCAA president Ma. Vivian Manila of St. Scholastica. “Everyone in the league is excited about the coming season because it is our 40th year. Not all leagues survive for 40 years." Other competing teams are Centro Escolar University, De La Salle Santiago-Zobel, College of St. Benilde, Emilio Aguinaldo College, La Consolacion College-Manila, La Salle College Antipolo, Miriam College, Philippine Women's University, Rizal Technological University, San Beda College-Alabang, St. Stephen's High School and University of Asia & the Pacific. Crowns in badminton, basketball, cheerleading, futsal, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball will also be contested. Matches in volleyball will start on August 2 at the RTU gym. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV