Lady Dragons to beef up Phl squad vs. Singapore

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebuana players forming the core of the Philippine Lady Vocanoes vowed to give their best shot when they defend their turf against the national team of Singapore in the highly-anticipated 1st International Ladies 15s Rugby Football Challenge on June 2 at the Cebu International School (CIS) field in Brgy. Pit-os, this city.

Game time is set at 3 pm.Though holding the Singaporeans with high respect, the Lady Dragons are upbeat on their chances because on their extensive training regimen and year-round preparation.

“These ladies have a lot of experience and we play competitively. Expect more hardcore tackling in the field. We're ready and we're preparing for this for a long time already,” said Cebu Lady Dragons team captain Aiumi Ono in a press conference yesterday at Los Baños room of Laguna Garden Cafe in Ayala.

“Basically, we've been training for a year. We're pretty much prepared for this game against Singapore come June 2,” said Marie Antonette G. Gambito.

Also present during the presscon were CIS Superintendent Deidre Fischer, Cebu City Rugby Football Club chairman Simon Hoyle, CCRFC Board Members Robert Booth and Damien Allison, Rugby Development Officer Rose Mae Lanticse and Cebu Rugby coach and Phl Volcanoes player Jerry Branzuela.

 Lanticse said the Phl-Singapore duel is a landmark event that the Cebuanos should look foward to.

“This one will make us proud because the players are homegrown Filipinos who will go up against an international team,” said Lanticse.

The other members of Cebu Lady Dragons suiting up for the Lady Volcanoes include Hayes Monica Bolofer, Jessica Anne R. Filoteo, Vange Agbay, Lalaine Albarando, Blessie Kate de los Santos, Madille Salinas, Mae Ann G. Ubaub, Eloisa Jasmine T. Jordan and Ann Kristine Mae Regner Layumas. 

“ I encourage everyone to come and see the game. Rugby is relatively unknown in the Philippines, but it's a very exciting sport to watch,” said Booth.

As an aperitif to the Phl-Singapore showdown, there will be a friendly encounter in the JML-Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) 15s League pitting the Cebu Dragons against the Alabang Eagles, the very same team wherein celebrities like Andrew Wolff and Derek Ramsey belong. Game time is set at 1:30 pm.

From 10am to 12 nn on that day, a Kids Touch Rugby Tournament will take place. It's the culminating activity for the Summer Kids Program spearheaded by the Cebu City Rugby Football Club (CCRFC) at the City Central Elementary School.

Held in partnership with the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) as part of its grassroots sports development project, the clinic has attracted 50 kids who are eager learn the sport.—with Caecent No-ot Magsumbol - THE FREEMAN