Incheon, Korea: Two weeks ago the Globe Philippine Volcanoes narrowly missed a Top 4 finish in Round 1 of the Asia Sevens Series. This would have been their best finish in Asia since their Bronze medal placing in 2013. This weekend the Volcanoes have a chance at redemption against the very team who beat them in extra time in the first round of the series in Hong Kong.
 
“The team came very close in Hong Kong, a loss in overtime against Korea was heartbreaking. A Top 4 finish in the whole of Asia would have been an ideal start to the series. Never the less, we have another shot this weekend in Korea, it's going to be another tough weekend up against the best in Asia” shares Harrison Carceller Blake, Team Captain for the Volcanoes.
 
The Volcanoes have been placed in Pool B, facing hometown favourites Korea, second seeds Hong Kong and Southeast Asian rivals Malaysia on day one of competition. The Volcanoes welcome back Team Captain Blake, speedster Jonico Ater Hardwick and have selected debutant Japanese Filipino Kohei Mitsuhashi for round two of the series. Both Danny Bembo Matthews and Joe Palabay Dawson have been ruled unavailable for selection, both suffering short term injuries.
 
“Having Harrison and Jonico back in the 12 is a positive, both are game changers and have that x-factor on the field. Blake leads well from the front and Jonico is a great finisher. I am also looking forward to Kohei’s debut tournament, he deserves his selection and adds great balance to the make up of this squad” shared Jake Letts of Philippine Rugby.
 
The Volcanoes have been residing together for the past 8 days at their High Performance Facility at Southern Plains, Laguna. The national team use this training camp as their key preparation for each international event. The players are run through extensive practice sessions under coaches Frano Botica and David Johnston.
 
“At times we performed very well in Hong Kong, we just need to be more accurate on our defence and kick offs so we can continue to move up the ladder in Asia” said a confident Botica, a former New Zealand All Black.
 
The tournament will run for two days and be played at Incheon Asaid Stadium, Korea. The top 8 teams are vying for series points to determine the Top 2 teams over three legs which will qualify for the 2018 Rugby Sevens World Cup. Round three of the series will be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 14 and 15.
 
Match times for Round 2 of the Asia Sevens Series in Incheon, Korea.

Opening Day: Saturday 22nd September:
​
10:00 - Philippines vs. Hong Kong
13:18 - Philippines vs. Korea
15:52 - Philippines vs. Malaysia 

Finals Day - Sunday 23rd September (TBA)

Tainan, Taiwan – The U17 Philippine Volcanoes, proudly sponsored by First Pacific and the MVP Sports Foundation, finished runners up in the Plate Division over the weekend at 2017 Youth Olympic Qualifiers.

The competition took place in Taiwan, this doubled up as the Asia’s qualification for the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympics. The Junior Volcanoes came out with a solid victory to kick start the weekend, beating Uzbekistan 14-5 in their opening game. The Jr. Volcanoes fell to tournament favorites Japan in their second match however finished day one strongly by shutting out Laos 35-0. Dean Beeton, Paco Locsin, and Owen Wakeham were top performers on day one for the Philippines.

Day two saw the Volcanoes finish 3rd in their pool and drew India in the plate semi final. Team captain, Dean Beeton, who had seventy per cent success rate kicking conversions,  led the Jr. Volcanoes with a comfortable win over India 29-5. After the semi final win, both Beeton and home grown speedster Anthony Buenconsejo of the Clark Jets , were forced out to injury. Hong Kong with an advantage went on to win the plate final 29 to nil.

“The boys played their hearts out and I could not ask for anymore from them,” shares Beeton.

“The experience for the players was phenomenal, an event that opens so many opportunities for young athletes. A big thanks to First Pacific and MVP Sports Foundation for supporting our  National Youth Programs. These young men are the future for Philippine sport and have done our country proud. The future is bright for the Philippine Volcanoes” added Jovan Masalunga, Head Coach.

The Volcanoes now focus on their next milestone event, the Men’s National Sevens Team will compete in Round 2 of the Asia Sevens Series on September 23 and 24 in Incheon, Korea. 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The U17 Philippine Volcanoes, sponsored by First Pacific, are playing for Youth Olympic Qualification in Tainan, Taiwan this weekend.

The junior competition, which doubles up as the Youth Olympic Qualifier, takes place this Saturday and Sunday 9/10th September. This will be the second time the Philippines take on the rest of Asia at this level. Last year the First Pacific Philippine Volcanoes U18s came away with the bronze medal after beating Singapore in the final of the plate division.

The Philippines have been drawn in Pool B of the two day tournament and will face Uzbekistan, Japan, Lao and Thailand. Seeded sixth going into the competition, the Volcanoes will be looking to cause some upsets.

“Going in as underdogs puts us in a better position. We have a fearless squad and can prove to the rest of Asia why we deserve a place in the Youth Olympics” shared Dean Beeton, Team Captain. The team has youth on their side, built with talent.

“Thanks to First Pacific and the MVPSF Foundation, it is brilliant that players are graduating into the Under 19s, Under 20s and even then Men’s Volcanoes squads. I am excited to see what these younger athletes have to offer on the international stage” Head Coach Jovan Masalunga shared of the First Pacific Philippine Volcanoes.

Masalunga has called up five players from this year’s First Pacific Philippine Volcanoes Under 16s, who won the cup division at the Bangkok International Tens Tournament earlier in the year.

 “Our team has trained extremely hard. They are looking sharp and I can see they really want to make our nation proud, we look forward to this event" shared Masalunga. 

Game times:

Saturday 9th August:

Philippines vs. Uzbekistan - 10.14
Philippines vs. Japan - 13.06
Philippines vs. Lao - 15.14

Sunday 10th August:

Philippines vs. Thailand - 10.44

Finals TBA 

​Hong Kong; The Philippine Volcanoes have regrouped from the SEA Games to notch up victories against Malaysia and Chinese Taipei at the first leg of the 2017 Asian 7s Series.
 
The beauty of Rugby Sevens, is any team can win, at any given tournament. After losing to Malaysia at the 29th SEA Games recently, the Globe Ph Volcanoes went on to score 33 unanswered points against the SEA Games gold medalists to win by 33-0. Tommy Kalaw Gilbert, Joe Palabay Dawson and Vincent Amar Young were some of the outstanding performers for the Volcanoes.
 
Two weeks ago, the Philippine Volcanoes were fighting for back-to-back Gold Medals in Kuala Lumpur at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. Unfortunately up to a third of the Volcanoes top line National Players were unavailable due to Japanese professional rugby commitments, resulting in a non-release to represent the country at the SEA Games. The Asian 7s Series saw the Volcanoes send out a stronger line up and as a result secured much needed victories to set them back on the path to success.
 
“It has always been a great rivalry between the two nations, and we have the opportunity to go head-to-head throughout the Asia 7s Series in the next two legs that will be played in Korea Sept 23/24 and Sri Lanka Oct 14/15. Malaysia are a class outfit, it goes to show the level and intensity of sport in the region” Jake Letts of the Philippine Rugby Union shared.
 
The Asian 7s Series is the annual ranking tournament for the top eight (8) Rugby 7s nations in Asia, with the top three countries winning selection to attend the World Rugby Hong Kong 7s and the top two qualifying for 2018 Rugby World Cup in the USA. The Volcanoes were able to achieve this feat in 2013 and are looking to win through again in 2017.