No Holy Week break for Volcanoes as they go to Singapore for SEA 7's

PRFU treasurer William Bailey and Jollibee marketing head Francis Flores shake hands to signal the start of both organizations' newfound partnership.

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG--The Lenten holidays will still be work days for the Philippine Volcanoes.

The national rugby team will fly to Singapore for the Southeast Asia 7's this weekend.

The said tournament is a side event of an even bigger tilt.

"The [HSBC] World [Rugby Sevens] Series will have the top 15 rugby sevens teams. The next leg will be in Singapore this weekend. What the Singapore Rugby [Union] did was that they want to make sure to grow the sport of rugby in Southeast Asia, so they invited all the nations in Southeast Asia," said Jakey Letts, the national teams head of PRFU.

Veterans Justin Coveney, Alex Aronson, Gaz Holgate, Jovan Masalunga, Tim Bweheni, and Chris Everingham will lead the 12-man roster to the SEA 7's. The said long-timers are more known as members of the 15's squad.

Newcomers Edlen Hernandez, Joe Dawson, Jonel Madrona, Manuel Olondriz, Christian Vitug, and Joshua Aragon complete the lineup.

About the roster, Letts said, "Basically, we're sending a development team," while also saying that the other teams are also fielding in their own developmental squads.

The Volcanoes are grouped with Singapore A, Brunei, and Indonesia in Pool A.

Another Singaporean squad will headline Pool B with Malaysia, Thailand, and Laos.

The winners of the pool stages on Good Friday will face off in the final on Black Saturday.

In a related development, the Volcanoes found a new partner in Jollibee.

Letts, PRFU treasurer William Bailey, Jollibee marketing head Francis Flores, and communications head Arline Adiva were present in the signing of the memorandum of agreement on Monday at the Jollibee Plaza.

With the said restaurant chain as a new sponsor of the Volcanoes, the Jollibee logo will be seen in their jerseys.

This is the second time the Jollibee Food Corporation is supporting a national team as Mang Inasal, one of the restaurant chains under its umbrella, supported Gilas for its FIBA OQT campaign last year.

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