Fila-Pinas

Field of
dreams

By Demi
Braque

Pride
burns deep as the country’s football team, the Philippine Volcanoes, inch
closer to their dream of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup Sevens following a
victorious run against the United Arab Emirates last month.

The game
closed at 24-8, a 300 per cent victory against its opponent, after a final
touchdown by outside center Matt Saunders. The first half closed with a very
hopeful score of 12-5, in favor of the home team. UAE managed to score three
points at the early part of the second half but never recovered. From another
Volcano touchdown, the score rose to 17-8 unto 19-8 and then victory.

The
Philippine National Rugby Union Team, nicknamed the “Volcanoes,” is the
country’s official representation to the international rugby union. With
countless gold medals to their name, besting prominent countries in
international tournaments, the Volcanoes have now become headlines in
Philippine sports news.

Today,
the Volcanoes are the most successful team in the Asian Five Nations
Tournament, next to Japan. In the past five years, the Herculean squad has only
lost twice to South Korea in Division One, last year and, more recently, last
April. Last year, the Volcanoes stormed into the Top 5 with an unbeaten run,
besting Chinese-Taipei, Singapore and Sri Lanka in a round-robin basis.

“We have
three more games next year,” hollered team captain Michael Letts during the
post-game photo opp at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

2013
marks a new era for the Philippine Volcanoes as they the Philippine flag to the
2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow this June. This athletic feat is a big
first for the country – and even deeper for benefactor Fila Philippines, who
will accompany the team to the prestigious competition as official sponsor.

Let the
cheer thunder on and grow even louder as the Philippine Volcanoes heave on to
the show-grounds of champions. Finally in league with the big boys, the
Philippines’ own are pumped more than ever. And with Fila Philippines standing
behind in full support, there will be no backing down.

Stand
strong and proud behind the Philippine Volcanoes team, as they charge for
victory in realizing their dream of competing in the 2013 Rugby World Cup
Sevens.