Lady Volcanoes eyes on Borneo for SEAG prep

3/19/2019

Helena Indigne in action for the Lady Volcanoes Development

The Philippine National Women’s Rugby Team, backed by MVP Sports Foundation, the Philippine Sports Commission and First Pacific, are all set for their first preparation tournament for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

The Lady Volcanoes are relying on foreign exposure to aid their preparations as they aim for a podium finish in the SEA Games in December later this year.

“The more competitions we play in. The better we are going to be prepared. Our domestic competitions are improving however international exposure allows our skills and abilities to be tested at the highest level” shared Acee San Juan, Philippine Lady Volcano.

Team Philippines will also find fellow SEA nations competing in the same event, as both Singapore and Malaysia have been listed as other competing nations.

“The Borneo Sevens is an international and invitational rugby tournament, where top teams throughout the world travel to compete. For both men’s and women’s, teams from Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Russia and even Belgium compete in the tournament” shared Jake Letts of Philippine Rugby.

The Lady Volcanoes have selected a Development 12, mainly players that have been training consistently with the national program over the last two months and all in contention for selection for the SEA Games. The team will be coached by Andy Brown, former Jamaican National Sevens Coach.

“Coach Andy brings a wealth of experience, so we are lucky to have his leadership for the national women’s program” added Letts. The Philippines face Pearls Japan, the Hong Kong Dragons, and Singapore Development in Pool A on Saturday. The finals will be seeded after the round robin pool play and played on Sunday.

The Lady Volcanoes are following extensive preparations up until December. Following the Borneo Sevens the Volcanoes will compete in the Asia Rugby Women’s Championships in June followed by the Trophy Series in August in Indonesia and another foreign exposure tour in November. The aim of the Lady Volcanoes is to finish once again on the podium in the 2019 SEA Games were they secured the Bronze medal back in 2015.

The 12 players selected for Lady Volcanoes development include:

1. Kaia Briela Padilla Baui
2. Leonor Casinillo Boroy
3. Alyana Ysabel Siongco Del Fierro
4. Aldee Faith Lyde Pielago Denuyo
5. Kaye Llanie Perez Honoras
6. Helena Roxanne Aguilar Indigne
7. Ma. Isabella Angeles Baltazar Nepumuceno
8. Aiumi Villarba Ono
9. Rassiel Adonis Sales
10. Maricar Villamor Samson
11. Angella Camille San Juan
12. Sylvia Selfaison Tudoc

Head Coach: Andy Brown

The Borneo Sevens will be hosted in Sandakan, at the Eagles Rugby Rugby Club on 23rd and 24th March. Matches kick off at 9:00am.