Lyceum opens defense of WNCAA basketball, volleyball titles

Host Lyceum of the Philippines University opens its defense of the Senior A basketball and volleyball crowns when the 38th WNCAA tournament starts Game 1 of its best-of-three finals series on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The league said Saturday that St. Francis of Assisi College likewise eyes a double crown in only its second year in the country's lone tri-level league for women. After sweeping the elimination round of both events, the Lady Pirates hope to do the same against the College of St. Benilde Blazers in basketball starting at 12 noon and St. Francis in volleyball at 6:30 p.m. Revenge would be foremost on the agenda of the Blazers, who lost to the Lady Pirates in last year's basketball championships. In the Senior B finals, Rizal Technological University plays St. Francis in basketball at 10:30 a.m. while Emilio Aguinaldo College and La Consolacion College Manila collide at 5 p.m. in volleyball. Lyceum defeated CSB in their elimination round match last September 2, 59-38. In volleyball, Lyceum overcame St. Francis in five sets, 25-14, 20-25, 25-12, 16-25, 15-10, last August 26. St. Francis had to hurdle RTU twice in the crossover semifinals to take the finals - 25-21, 26-24, 25-21 on September 30 and 25-17, 25-23, 25-23 last Friday. Game 2 will be played on October 12, Friday, at the St. Scholastica's College gym. Battling for second runner-up honors in basketball are Philippine Women's University and Emilio Aguinaldo College in Senior B at 7:30 a.m. and World Citi Colleges and St. Scho in Senior A at 9:30 a.m. In the junior futsal finals, De La Salle Zobel eyes a second straight crown against Miriam College at 9 a.m. at the Club 650 gym. - GMANews.TV