BACK-TO-BACK! SKF Makati Mavericks defend 2022 Globe 7s Series NDD title

Cavite, Philippines – The SKF Makati Mavericks (Mavericks) successfully defended its National Development Division (NDD) championship at the 2nd leg of the 2022 Globe 7s Series on 10 September, 2022 at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub. Despite the unpredictable weather, the Mavericks were still able to come out on top of the festival day composed of 6 teams from across the island of Luzon.

After beating the Albay Bulkans and La Liga 2 in the pool A round robin matches, the Mavericks played La Liga 1 in the 1st semifinals match, and beat them at 39 - 0. In pool B, the Clark Jets (Jets) beat La Liga 1 and Nomads Kalabaws. The Jets won over pool A second-ranked team, the Albay Bulkans, in the 2nd semifinals match with a final score of 24 - 5. Leg 1 finalists and rivals Mavericks and Jets faced each other in the finals once again, with the Mavericks repeating against the Jets with a final score of 24 - 7.
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Living up to his statement during Leg 1’s post-festival interview that their 1st Leg win would be their drive to defend their championship, Captain Lito Ramirez got the Championship, and was hailed Leg 2 Most Valuable Player of the NDD. Players from the Mavericks were more than motivated during the last festival, as it was Head Coach David Johnston’s last game with the team. Johnston will be flying back to Canada, as announced by the PRFU VP Sec-Gen, Mr. Rick Santos after the awarding ceremony. In 9 years of coaching in the country, David Johnston has brought out a lot of talent from all the players he has coached. When asked about his six-month stay with the Mavericks, Johnston simply said “My experience has been very enjoyable. The club has a great culture, and the athletes enjoy training and competing.” Without hesitation, he also believes that the system that the club has will continue in the coming legs for the National Development, Open, and Women’s divisions. He expects the Mavericks’ NDD team to still get into the finals for the third straight time, and hopefully get the three-peat for the division.

Final ranking during the NDD second leg: La Liga 2 at 6th place, Nomads Kalabaws at 5th, Albay Bulkans at 4th, La Liga 1 at 3rd, Clark Jets at 2nd, and SKF Makati Mavericks at number 1. Overall points from the two legs are 24, 28, 28, 34, 38, and 44 respectively. 

We hope to see you again this Saturday, September 17, for the Colts, Juniors, and Grassroots to Global Girls touch rugby festival, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite! Second leg of the Open and Women’s division will commence the following Saturday, Sep 24, 2022, at the same venue.