University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and Colegio de San Juan de Letran will look to protect their respective reigns when the NCAA Season 99 beach volleyball tournament opens on Wednesday at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone grounds in Zambales.
Perpetual previously dethroned Emilio Aguinaldo College to rule the Season 98 men's beach volleyball contest behind the tandem of Louie Ramirez and Jefferson Marapoc, ending a three-peat bid of the Generals.
Letran, meanwhile, also ruled the previous season after Cha Cuñada and Lara Mae Silva steered the Lady Knights to their second overall women's beach volleyball title and first after 21 years following a sweep of the Perpetual Lady ALTAs.
Cuñada and Marapoc were named MVPs.
This season, Ramirez and Marapoc will return to continue their bid for back-to-back titles while alternate Klint Michael Mateo will complete the three-man team. Silva, on the other hand, will also return and will be joined by rookie Gia Maquilang.
Perpetual will kick off its campaign on Wednesday against Jose Rizal University in the morning schedule then Mapua University in the after session. The Lady Knights, meanwhile, will take on JRU and Arellano University on the opening day.
Each team will have two games per day with the elimination round running from January 24 to January 28 while the crossover semifinals, battle for bronze, and the finals are slated on Sunday, January 29.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
