Volcanoes going full blast in S’pore Southeast Asia Sevens

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Volcanoes set out for an explosive showing against regional rivals as they hit the field on Good Friday in the 2017 Singapore Southeast Asia Sevens tournament.

The Volcanoes seek to hurdle Pool A opponents host Singapore Team 1, Indonesia and Brunei in the preliminaries and sustain the charge heading into Saturday’s semis and finals as they step up their pre-Southeast Asian Games preparations.

Last time, the Filipinos settled for third place behind champion Thailand and runner-up Singapore in the tournament held in the same week as the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Series. The Thais headline Pool B with Malaysia, Laos and Singapore Team 2.

“Our chances are really strong,” said skipper Jake Letts during the recent signing of partnership between the Philippine Rugby Football Union and fastfood giant Jollibee.

Letts is expected to team up with Justin Coveney, Alex Aronson, Gareth Holgate and Jovan Masalunga in Singapore, positive they can carry over the winning form from their triumph in the Asia Rugby 7s Tournament last month in Qatar and victories in a pair of friendlies with New Zealand Navymen.

The Lady Volcanoes also vie in the distaff side of the Singapore SEA 7s, where they are bunched with Singapore and Indonesia in Pool B.

Meanwhile, PRFU executive William Bailey and Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Office Francis Flores signed a memorandum of agreement at the Jollibee Plaza in Ortigas to formalize their tie-up.

Bailey said PRFU and Jollibee will collaborate to “build awareness for the game, develop it, and get kids involved.”

For their part, Jollibee brand communications and PR director Arline Adeva said the company and the Volcanoes share the same Filipino spirit.

“As a proudly Filipino brand we are always ready to support organizations (like them),” she said.