San Beda leads NCAA overall championship race

San Beda could emerge with its first ever overall championship in the seniors division after amassing with the best aggregate score with two sports events still to be completed in the 86th NCA season.

To date, San Beda have 299 points after topping men’s basketball, swimming, men’s table tennis and men’s and women’s taekwondo and appeared on their way to ruling football with an unblemished record in the fast emerging discipline in the country.

The Mendiola-based team, whose best overall finish in the oldest and one of the most prestigious leagues in the land were several second place efforts including two seasons ago, are expected to be given a run for their money by last year’s general champion Letran, last year’s runner-up St. Benilde and host San Sebastian.

Of the three, San Sebastian is expected to make a big leap considering it is a favorite to repeat in centerpiece athletics after reigning supreme in last year’s edition.

But Management Committee member Jose Mari Lacson is keeping his finger’s crossed.

“We’ve never won an overall championship but we have several second place finishes,” said Lacson. “We have a strong chance of topping football but I have little hope in track and field so let’s see what happens.”

Rounding up the seniors’ race are Perpetual Help (182), Arellano (175), Emilio Aguinaldo (140), Mapua (108) and Jose Rizal (87).

San Sebastian, for its part, are well on its way of ruling the high school division as it is heads above water over the competition with a league best 230 points, way ahead of closest yet distant pursuer San Beda with 169.