MANILA, Philippines — Four matches kick off the National Capital Region leg of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League today with Hope Christian High School and UST colliding in an early clash of the favorites at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The HCS-UST duel in Pool A is set at 1 p.m. after the 12 noon opening rites of the ninth staging of the nationwide SGVL which culminates in the Tournament of Champions slated March 21-24 in Davao City. National University and Rizal High School mix it up at 2 p.m., also in Pool A of the two-group tournament, sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and organized by Metro Sports, featuring the leading high school volley schools in Metro Manila.

Colegio San Agustin takes on Angelicum College at 3 p.m. in a Pool B clash that also features the Kings’ Montessori School-St. James Academy-Malabon faceoff at 4 p.m., also in Pool B. The top two teams in both groups after the single round elims will clash in the crossover semis with the winners disputing the NCR leg crown and a berth in the T-of-C.

Water Runs

A huge field vies for top honors in three divisions in the third leg of the Philippine Water Runs (PWR) set today in Marikina City. Marikina City officials, led by Mayor Del De Guzman and Vice Mayor Fabian Cadiz, will fire off the event at 6 a.m. Fabulous prizes are up for grabs in the 3K, 5K and 10K runs with the event drawing the support of Presidential Adviser on Environmental Protection Neric Acosta, a three-term congressman from Bukidnon, and Burlington Industries Phils. (BIP) Inc., makers of Burlington BioFresh.

Eventologists and Veepo Global Resources, organizers of the event, have named BioFresh as PWR's official socks. Thousands of runners took part in PWR’s first two legs, backed by Kaakbay, Jockey, LifeStraw, Diadora and Keg, in Vigan and Naga.

College Golf

Defending champion De La Salle University and newcomer Lyceum of the Philippines University will clash in today’s championship round of the Intercollegiate Golf Championship as the Green Archers host the Pirates at their home course in Sherwood Hills in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

The Archers barged into the finals by sweeping College of Saint Benilde, 2-0, while the Pirates stunned the Blue Eagles in their rematch during the last play of elimination in this tournaments sponsored by the Philippine Golf Foundation. Aside from Ateneo and St. Benilde, other schools that participated in the Intercollegiate Golf are the University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas.

Bloe Men Cup

The 20th Br. Alphosus Bloemen Golf Cup gets under way tomorrow at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City. A Tucson SUV from Hyundai Marcos Highway, a Picanto from KIA Metro East, a Vespa Scooter from Autohub Group, as well as Golfcart from Club Car Phils., P100,000 in Pag cor chips and P100,000 cash from MAA Assurance are the valuable hole-in-one prizes.

The tournament kicks off the 2012 Animo Golf Tour Series to be hosted by various La Salle Alumni Associations. The Bloemen Golf Cup is an annual fund-raising event of the La Salle Green Hills Alumni Association (LSGHAA), which benefits the Adult Night High School Scholarship The tournament is presented by PLDT with Hyundai Marcos Highway, Pacsports, SMDC, Meralco, 100+, Tanduay Ice, PAGCOR, Forest Hills, Robinsons Communities & Residences, Sports Specialists, East West Bank and ATR KIM ENG as major sponsors, with Business Mirror as media partner.

Boxing Show

Another two-in-one action is in store for boxing fans tonight in Rod Nazario’s In This Corner over PTV-4. A four-round preliminary bout opens the 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. show presented by Ginebra San Miguel, San Miguel Beer, Purefoods, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Petron, as Michael Enriquez takes on Reymark Calumpad in a flyweight encounter.

The main match, meanwhile, features Erwin Cebuhano of Baguio City clashing with Jessie Blanca of Albay in a six-round bantamweight fight. Both bouts were held at the Tejeros Convention Center in Rosario, Cavite.