MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Volcanoes started their quest for Rio on the wrong foot, losing back-to-back games to Malaysia and host Hong Kong in the pool play of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Qualifiers yesterday at Hong Kong Stadium.
The Volcanoes, the reigning Southeast Asian Games champions, got ambushed by the Malaysians in the morning sessions, 10-15, then suffered a 0-29 defeat at the hands Asian power Hong Kong, to find themselves reeling at the cellar in Pool B.
Tries by Anwarul Hafiz Bin Ahmad and Muhamad Firdaus Bin Tarmizi put the Malaysians ahead of the Pinoys, 10-0, before Phl drew level with Jason Lynch making consecutive touchdowns.
But the Pinoys failed to stop Wan Izzudin Bin Ismail from scoring, allowing Malaysia to secure the victory.
The afternoon match was worst for the Volcanoes as Hong Kong shut them out completely.
Kam Shing Yiu led the home side’s assault with two tries while James Paul Hood struck for one try and two conversions. Alexander McQueen and Rowan Varty each tried once to complete HK’s domination.
Phl found itself in fifth spot in Pool B with two points on a 0-2 card.
Malaysia took the top position at presstime with seven points on a 2-1 record followed by HK and Sri Lanka with identical six markers on 2-0 and Iran with three points on 0-3.
The Pinoys try to stay alive in their last two games in the elims. They were to play Iran last night before taking on Sri Lanka today, hoping to crash the Top 2 of the group.