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Alabang Eagles had a weekend to remember on Saturday when both their first and second teams, the Ibons, contested the Subic Sevens final. Their women’s team, the Angels, then pulled off the shock of the tournament beating overwhelming favourites, Nomads Bullettes to win the cup final.

Eight teams, split into two pools of four , competed in the men’s division. Alabang Eagles sailed through their three games, scoring 90 points and only conceding a solitary try to a courageous MAAP 1st team.

The game against the tournament novices PNPA, looked almost like a game of unopposed and as the Eagles proved far too slick for their opponents.

Barretto Blues, a visiting team from Darwin, struggled in the pool stages going down in all three games. In the final pool game MAAP 1st team overran PNPA winning 21-0 to book their place in the plate final.

In Pool B Alabang Ibons, who have several players who can consider themselves unlucky not to be first team picks, were every bit the equal of the Eagles in terms of confidence. They topped the group after recording their first ever win against Nomads, with a 12-7 come from behind victory.

Nomads, fielding yet again a side more suited to the more physical 15 a-side game were industrious and after their early defeat at the hands of the Ibons, trounced both MAAP 2nd team and Manila Hapons.

The Hapons, with 17 year old Lester Loma from Cebu Dragons guesting on the wing, edged MAAP 2nds to ensure they would play PNPA in the bowl final, where in an exciting end to end game they prevailed 27-14.
Nomads, lacking as a team in the pace department, had far too much experience and cohesion for MAAP 1sts and they never looked in danger, finally running out 31-14 winners.

With Eagles up against Ibons, the cup was already going to the Southern suburbs of Manila. Notwithstanding a courageous effort by the Ibons, especially early on in the game, where after a period of sustained pressure they had the temerity to take the lead, Eagles were just too classy and ran out 26-5 victors.

The day also saw a four match series of women’s contact rugby games, between the Cebu Pink Dragons and the Luzon Ladies. Cebu’s greater experience paid dividends, as they showed confidence in recycling the ball and passing the ball through the hands. The Luzon team, many of whom were playing their first ever competitive game did not have the requisite skills to match their collective heart, but after two early defeats they did manage to record a draw in the third rubber before succumbing to another narrow defeat.

In the Women’s Touch Rugby Tournament five teams played a round robin format with the top two contesting the final.

Nomads Bullettes, far and away the dominant team on the local scene predictably recorded four wins from four, only conceding one try to the Alabang Angels. The Angels stuck to a simple game plan and with every squad member supporting play-maker Trixie Marga, they also advanced with three wins from four.

Having never beaten the Bullettes and having lost 3-1 in the pool game, it would have taken a brave man to bet on the Angels. However with an amazing spirit coursing through the team and absolutely nothing to lose, they not only matched up to their far more experienced opponents, they completely outplayed them.

The pace of Pilar Oreel out wide was a constant threat and as the game wore on and holding a two try advantage, the Angels did the basics well and looked in total control. A 3-1 win from a most unexpected source gave Eagles patriarch Randell Carman and his entire club a day to remember.

Now firmly established on the Philippine rugby calendar, the Subic Sevens has the capacity to attract more overseas teams. If more international teams can be persuaded to particapte, the IRB could upgrade the event back to its Asian Sevens Series.