CEU, PWU, RTU gain ‘WNC’ semis

MANILA, Philippines - Four-time senior defending champion Centro Escolar University, host Philippine Women’s University and Rizal Technological University posted lopsided victories to assure themselves of semifinal berths in the 46th WNCAA basketball tournament at the St. Scholastica’s gym over the weekend.

CEU mangled St. Scholastica’s College, 79-7, to move within a win of posting a seven-game sweep. Opeyemi Lawan fired 18 points, 45th season MVP Janine Pontejos had 16 points and Cristine Caranto added 14 markers for the Lady Scorpions.

Charlene Caramba and Brianne Mae Medora, on the other hand, combined for 23 points to lead PWU past San Beda College Alabang, 56-23, for a 5-1 slate.

RTU trounced Miriam College, 94-21, to also improve to 5-1.

In senior volleyball, defending champion RTU downed Miriam, 25-17, 25-18, 25-16, to sweep the seven-game elims. It will take on No. 4 PWU at 2 p.m. in the crossover semifinals this Sunday  at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The other semifinal pairing – CEU versus SBCA – follows at 4 p.m.

RTU continued to dominate the senior futsal field with the defending champion scoring a 4-0 rout of Miriam at the UA&P gym to remain on top with a 5-0-1 win-loss-draw card.

De La Salle Zobel walloped Miriam, 7-1, to pace the junior division at 6-0-0.

In junior basketball, defending champion La Salle College Antipolo bested St. Jude Catholic School, 53-22, behind Princess Manzanares’ 21 points to set up a Final Four clash with Chiang Kai Shek College.

DLSZ and Angelicum College will dispute the other finals slot this Saturday.

St. Paul College Pasig, meanwhile, downed St. Stephen’s  39-17, to finish second in the midgets elimination. St. Paul and SSHS, which wound up fifth, will clash anew for a semifinal slot also this Saturday.

The  league is  backed by Gosen, Mikasa, Molten, Goody, Converse, Colgate, Sonak Trading, MJC Printing Press and media partners The Philippine STAR, Sports5, Magic 89.9 and Chalk Magazine.