Volcanoes blow bid for Rio Olympics rugby

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Volcanoes kissed their bid for a Rio stint goodbye as they failed to reach the Cup semifinals of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Qualifiers at Hong Kong Stadium.

After dropping their first two assignments against Malaysia (10-15) and Hong Kong (0-29), the Volcanoes pulled off a 38-10 victory over Iran but got blown away by Sri Lanka yesterday morning, 5-50, to finish Pool B action with six points on a 1-3 record.

At fourth in the group, Phl fell short of its target of Top 2 and a place in the Cup semis, which would have kept its Olympic aspirations alive.  Only the winner of the Cup will earn a ticket to Rio while the runner-up, third and fourth placers will get another crack in the Final Olympic Qualification Tournament in 2016.

Host Hong Kong topped Pool B with 12 points on an unblemished 4-0 card followed by Sri Lanka with 10 markers on a 3-1 slate. Malaysia was third with eight points (2-2) even as winless Iran brought the rear with four points.