WNCAA gets going with 18 schools

The Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) will welcome three new members when its 57th season gets off the ground Saturday at Makati Coliseum.

University of Makati (UMak) gets the distinction of being a new member-host, with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Antipolo and University of the East Ramon Magsaysay as the other two newcomers in the 18-team field.

After the 10 a.m. opening ceremony, 3×3 basketball kicks off action at 11 a.m., pitting the seniors’ teams of UMak and San Beda College Alabang.

The volleyball tournament will start Sept. 6 at St. Scholastica’s College Manila, before regular 5-on-5 cage action begins at Chiang Kai Shek College gym in Manila and futsal at St. Paul College Pasig a week later.

The second semester events are badminton, cheerdance and cheerleading, chess, softball, streetdance, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo (kyorugi and poomsae).

The season has the theme “Rise. Shine. Anywhere.”

“We strongly believe that sports development is an essential pillar of holistic education,” UMak president Elyxzur Ramos said during the press launch on Wednesday.

Other member schools are Centro Escolar University, Assumption Antipolo, Assumption College, De La Salle Santiago Zobel, La Salle College Antipolo, Miriam College, Philippine Women’s University, St. Jude Catholic School, St. Stephen’s High School, University of Asia & the Pacific and University of Santo Tomas-Angelicum College.