(Ken Koo / FCF)

Of all the stars in the National Collegiate Athletic Association galaxy, the Lyceum of the Philippines’ star shone the brightest for one night.

Aira Inoue of LPU topped out all the candidates during the Miss NCAA 2013 Coronation night held at the School of Design and Arts Theater in the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde campus in Manila on a rainy Friday night.

In a close race, Inoue scored an average of 7.81 in the final round to edge Hazel Joy Ortiz of Jose Rizal University (7.44, second place) and Patricia Anne Manaloto of Colegio de San Juan de Letran (7.253, third place) for the crown, where only the top three contestants were asked a final question on who deserved to be Miss NCAA 2013.

Aside from winning the crown, Miss LPU also bagged the Best in Eveningwear citation in the special awards. Ortiz also won the People’s Choice and Best in Sportswear awards, while Manaloto earned the Miss Talent award.

Winners of the other special awards included Benilde’s Amanda Noelle Navasero (Miss Photogenic), EAC’s Czarina Mae Dizon (Miss Congeniality), and Mapua’s Ramona Yamat (Best in Themewear).

Other participants of the pageant included Jessica Jade Santos (Arellano), Eryka Vina Tan (San Beda College), Carla Valderrama (San Sebastian College), and Trishia Almeda (Perpetual Help).