Phl Volcanoes active, brace for Asia 7

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Volcanoes will remain active for the rest of the year as they set their sights on the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

After seeing action in the tough World Cup Sevens in Russia, the Volcanoes are flexing their muscles for the Asia Men’s Seven Series, a seven-a-side tournament.

The opening leg takes place on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Kuala Lumpur to be followed by stops in Thailand on Sept. 21-22, Mumbai on Oct. 12-13 and finally in Singapore on Nov. 2-3.

The Volcanoes, who put the Philippines in the rugby map by making it to the 2013 Asia Five Nations (15s) elite division, have no plans of slowing down.

They are determined to keep their lofty position in Asian rugby sevens – third behind Japan and Hong Kong and a notch higher than China.

“That’s our goal,” said Philippine Rugby Football Union general manager Matt Cullen during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Cullen hopes to field the best team possible for the coming event in Kuala Lumpur, including the Volcanoes who are playing professional rugby overseas, mostly in Japan.

Cullen graced the weekly forum together with players Chris Everingham, Andrew Wolf, Harry Morris and Gareth Holgate.

The Asian Men’s Seven Series will eventually lead to the Asian Games.

“It’s a classification tournament for Asian Games and if we land in the top 4 then we will be in a better position in the Asian Games,” said Cullen.

The Volcanoes are on a surge the last couple of years and have been toughened up by stints in tournaments nobody thought they would ever get in, like the Asian Five Nations and World Cup Sevens.

“We are a better group now,” said Wolf, a member of the Philippine team (sevens) that won the silver in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand.

“I hope we can land in the top four in Asian Sevens,” he added.

The Philippine Volcanoes, sponsored by Fila, also draws support from the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.

“We are continuing our programs and we will keep on training for the Asian Games,” added Cullen, hoping a medal from the Volcanoes in the Asiad.

“Things don’t happen overnight but it will happen and it’s happening now. Our goal is to win a medal in the Asian Games next year,” he said.