FOR almost four decades, it has been the goal of the Women’s National Collegiate Athletics Association (WNCAA) to veer away from the shadows of the country’s premier leagues, such as University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).

But the league can’t help but be sidelined compared to the titans, all because of one glaring detail: Sports exclusively for ladies.

“The country gives more emphasis on the men in sports, that’s a fact. That is why we are trying our best to prove that if men can do sports, so do the women,” said WNCAA national president Vivian Manila during the league’s launching yesterday at the Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Jose P. Laurel Hall.

The organizers are hoping that support for women in sports will be more this year to encourage the league and its athletes to expand their horizon.

“I don’t think we can compete with the years of existence with UAAP and NCAA, we actually look up to them on how to run the league,” said Angelica dela Cruz, WNCAA-National Capital Region president.

WNCAA, now on its 38th season, is hosted by Lyceum University, which will open its title-retention bid in basketball on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Defending champion Lyceum tackles Centro Escolar at 1:30 p.m., followed by Miriam College, which battles San Scholastica’s College, (SSC) at 3 p.m. Philippine Women’s University and San Beda College Alabang meet at 4:30 p.m.

The matches start right after the elaborate opening ceremony presented by the host school.

“We have grand plans for the opening program [of the WNCAA],” said director Ramon “Chinggoy” Alonso,the artistic director of Lyceum Theater Company, who was also tapped by the school to organize the opening ceremonies.

This year’s theme is “Women Conquering the Challenges of Sports.” It is inspired by the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, which goes well with the Lady Pirates monicker of Lyceum.

Lyceum’s volleyball squad is also looking forward to extending its reign. The school has won seven crowns already in the league.

Hostilities in volleyball start Sunday at the Rizal Technological University gym.

A total of 18 schools—Lyceum, SSC, MC, CEU, RTU, SBCA-Alabang, University of Asia & the Pacific, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, St. Francis of Assissi College, World Citi College, Emilio Aguinaldo College and La Consolacion College—are participating this season. Absent this year are Sienna College and AMA College.

Wrong Model

TOKUSHIMA—An ugly draw and a nasty call have been pointed out as the culprits in the country’s premature exit in the Fiba Asia Championships and the subsequent failure to get an Olympic slot.

If Only …

TOKUSHIMA—If only votes of confidence can translate into victories, then the Philippines’ hopes of an Olympic berth would still be alive.

WHILE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Jose Emmanuel “Noli” M. Eala was pondering what went wrong and what is to be done about Philippine basketball, the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday ordered his disbarment for “grossly immoral conduct and unmitigated violation of the lawyer’s oath.”

THE National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) are combining forces in the formation of the national team for golf for the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.

FOR almost four decades, it has been the goal of the Women’s National Collegiate Athletics Association (WNCAA) to veer away from the shadows of the country’s premier leagues, such as University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).

MY good friend Al Mendoza, sports and motoring editor of the Philippine Chronicle, sends me text messages almost weekly after reading my BusinessMirror sports thingy—injecting his two (thousand) cents’ worth and adding perspective to what I had just shared.