THE PHILIPPINE women’s rugby team or the Lady Volcanoes are confident their second place finish in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championships was another step forward for the Union and the national program.
Lady Volcanoes general manager Jake Letts was upbeat. The team had been on a steady rise over the last two years, successfully achieving two silver medal finishes last year and already achieving one this year.
“Coming into this competition we were ahead of India but behind Singapore, after last weekend’s result we stayed ahead of India and passed Singapore. The Chinese were very dominant, they proved a class above all and finished first place,” Letts said.
He added: “The main aim for the program this year is to provide similar opportunities to what the men’s national team has had access to over the years.”
The women’s program over the last two years has been boosted by the support of both MVP Sports Foundation through the company of First Pacific and also the Philippine Sports Commission.
“We are now able to invest more resources into the women’s program to ensure they have every chance to succeed,” said Letts.
The Lady Volcanoes were led by experienced coaches Andy Brown, Fetala’i ‘Fitz’ Taua’a and Chris Everingham. All of them have strong experiences across each areas of specific expertise, and these were evident from last week’s matches.
The forwards laid a strong foundation thanks to Taua’a, the composition of the play directed by Brown and the strength and fitness by Everingham –a huge help for the team ahead of the Southeast Asian Games later this year.
The women’s program now focuses on the next international event which will be the Asia Trophy Series in Indonesia on August 10 and 11.
The Philippines finished second place
last year amongst 10 nations, the aim will be to go one better for the gold.
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Two karatekas from Bacolod City took home a medal each during the 31st Busan Mayor’s Cup and 12th Korea Open International Karatedo Championship recently at Busan, South Korea.
Juan Miguel Sebastian Jadie took home a gold medal for the Philippine delegation when he topped the U-13 male individual kumite, while Caizera Margaux Maraňon had a bronze on the distaff side.
The two Bacolodnon standouts were part of the PKTS – Philippines delegation that competed in the tournament.
Also taking home medals for the delegations were Kyro Charlz Mayugba (silver in cadet male individual kumite), Karl Corvin Mayugba (bronze medalist in 10-year-old individual kata and kumite), and Emanuel Jesus Sagun (bronze in senior male individual kata)./PN
