PH RUGBY TEAM KAKASA SA SEA GAMES

TATARGETIN ng Philippine Volcanoes at ng National Women’s Rugby Team ang mga medalya sa nalalapit na 30th Southeast Asian Games Rugby 7s  na nakatakda sa Disyembre 7-8 sa Clark, Angeles City Parade Grounds.

“Our goal for Rugby 7s is achieve a podium finish in both the Men’s and Women’s,” wika ni Jake Letts, General Manager ng Philippine Rugby Football Union Inc.

Ang mga koponan ay sumalang sa huling bahagi ng kanilang paghahanda para sa biennial meet, kung saan pumang-apat ang Volcanoes sa 2017 edition sa Kuala Lumpur.

Noong nakaraang linggo, ang Volcanoes ay lumahok sa Tokyo 2020 Regional Qualifying Tournament for the Olympic Games sa Korea, kung saan mainit ang kanilang naging pagtatapos laban sa hosts sa pagtala ng 31-5 panalo na nagpakita ng kanilang kahandaan na sumabak sa nalalapit na SEA Games.

Itinuturing ng Volcanoes ang Korean tournament bilang perfect ground para masubok ang kanilang tapang at lakas laban sa SEA Games rivals Thailand at Singapore.

“Both the men’s and women’s teams will continue their high performance training camps, along with gaining international exposure in regional Olympic Qualifying Events. The Women’s Team just returned from China where they faced the Top 8 teams in Asia. Both (tournaments) are playing important roles for not only the 2020 Olympics but also the SEA Games,” wika ni Letts na naniniwalang ang Volcanoes ay may sapat na kaka-yahan para bigyan ng magandang laban ang kanilang SEAG rivals, kabilang ang defending champion Malaysia.

Ang Volcanoes ay galing sa gold-medal finish sa Trophy Series noong nakaraang Agosto, na naglagay sa Filipinas sa Top 8 sa Asia, kung saan hindi sila naglaro magmula noong 2014.

“After a second-place finish in the Trophy Series in 2018, the progression to a Gold Medal in 2019 was the next move in the right direction. Now we have the opportunity to show the top teams in Asia how far we have come in five years,” dagdag ni Letts.

“We would like to encourage all our supporters to come to Clark Parade Grounds on December 7 and 8 to watch and cheer for Team Philippines as we compete against the best of Southeast Asia. Many thanks for everyone’s support.”