THE Alabang Eagles finished the 2016 JML 7s League undefeated, capping their season with a 21-0 beating of the Clark Jets, 21-0, to go back-to-back in the 2016 JML Rugby 7s League at the Southern Plains Rugby Complex in Calamba, Laguna.
The team proved to be a class above the rest, conceding only 36 points throughout the seven weeks of competition.
“It has been a great campaign for the Eagles, undefeated for the entire tournament. We will use this momentum leading into our next tournament in Cebu in November,” said Philippine Rugby Federation Union’s Jake Robrigado Letts.
The Albay Vulcans were able to seal a comfortable 17-5 win over the Manila Carabaos in the Shield Final. But it was the CBRE Mavericks that stole the show, beating their rival Alabang teams in the finals of the Plate, Bowl and Women’s divisions.
Philippine Under 18 Volcanoes Bryan Tan, Wiremu O’Regan-Brown and Ryan Santos all showed glimpses of class but it was Santos’ younger brother and Philippine Under 16 Volcano, Reed Santos, who shone, earning him the most valuable player award for the Bowl division. The Mavericks won the Bowl final over the Alabang Loros by a single conversion, 14-12.
The Plate final was also a very close encounter. The CBRE Mavericks beat the Alabang Ibons 10-7. The strength and power of Alabang Ibons and Philippine Volcano players Christopher Hettel and Timothy Kong wasn’t enough to counter the speed and agility of CBRE Mavericks and Philippine Volcanoes Alexander Aronson and Lito Ramirez.
With the final selections being made for the Ladies development tour to Bangkok in mid-November, the Women’s final was always going to fierce. This also finished very tightly, but yet again the CBRE Lady Mavericks edged out the Alabang Lady Eagles by a single try, winning 12-7. Lady Volcano, Sylvia Tudoc was the stand out player, earning herself the most valuable player award and ticket to Bangkok.
“It has been an exciting finish to a busy domestic competition, it is amazing to see more and more homegrown players embracing and excelling in the sport. We now look forward to the international season starting in December for our National U19s playing Korea, Singapore and UAE,” said Jovan Masalunga, Rugby Development Manager of the PRFU.
The PRFU is the official governing body of Rugby in the Philippines. Over the last decade, the PRFU has continued to teach, grow and develop the sport of Rugby and its values throughout the country. The national side is more commonly known as the Philippine Volcanoes.
The PRFU hosts three domestic leagues each year for all versions of the game. Rugby can be played under three different variants.
Rugby 7s is played with only seven players per side for a total of 14 minutes per match. Each team plays three matches per day. This is a much faster version of the game which is played at the South East Asian Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games.
Rugby 15s is played with 15 players per side. This is a much more physical game that lasts 80 minutes.
Rugby 10s is played with 10 players per side. A match lasts 20 minutes in total which is also a full contact game.