Lady Volcanoes, sasambulat sa Brunei
KUMPIYANSA ang national women’s rugby team, na itinataguyod ng First Pacific at MVP Sports Foundation, na muling makakahirit sa kanilang pagsabak sa 2018 Asia Trophy Series simula ngayon, sa Brunei.
Makakaharap ng Lady Volcanoes ang India, Pakistan, Nepal at Uzbekistan sa Pool B. Kabilang naman sa Group A ng Trophy Series ang Malaysia, Laos, Brunei at Guam.
Matikas ang naging kampanya ng women’s team sa international scene ngayong taon matapos ang runner-up finish sa Asia Rugby Championships (ARC) nitong Hunyo, na ayon kay General Manager Jake Letts ay resulta ng masusing programa.
“Women’s Rugby in the Philippines has made some positive strides in the last 12 months, we recently competed in the ARC in June, a first time since 2012 and our National Youth Team competed in the Youth Olympic Qualifiers late last year, two tournaments that usually were not in our international calendar however thanks to the PRFU, our sponsors and the Philippine Sports Commission, we are able to raise funding and compete in more tournaments each year and develop the program,” pahayag ni Letts.
Kamakailan, lumagda sa sponsorship package ang Lady Volcanoes sa MVP Sports Foundation para palakasin ang pagsasanay ng koponan sa kanilang paghahanda sa 2019 Southeast Asian Games sa Manila.
“We have working closely with MVPSF and First Pacific since 2014, most evidently in our National Youth Programs. For 2018 however we strategised together to see what other programs would benefit their support, our National Women’s Program is one that offers huge potential considering their success over the last few years,” ayon kay Letts.
Ang pagsabak sa Trophy Series ay bahagi rin ng malawakang programa para sa kampanya sa SEA Games.
Hindi matatawaran ang husay at galing nina Rassiel Sales at Sylvia Tudoc, ng Santos Knight Frank Mavericks, na parehong isinama sa Lady Volcanoes matapos ang impresibong laro sa local competition. Makakasama nila sina Dixie Yu at Madille Salinas mula sa Cebu, at ang mga beteranong sina Acee San Juan, ng Eagles RFC; at Aiumi Ono ng Makati Chiefs.
Pinangangasiwaan ang Lady Volcanoes ni Head Coach Ada Milby, Performance Manager and Strength & Conditioning Coach Chris Everingham, at team leader Kaye Honoras.
Unang makakaharap ng Lady Volcanoes ang Uzbekistan sa Seria, Brunei, Panaga Club, sunod ang Pakistan at India, sa unang araw ng kompetisyon.