THE Cebu Lady Dragons once again proved that Cebu is a good breeding ground for rugby players after topping the Philippine National Games (PNG) Women's Rugby 7s last Saturday at the Nomads Sports Club in Parañaque City, Metro Manila.
The Lady Dragons ran away with a 27-12 victory over Manila Xena in the final match to snag the gold medal of the tournament.
“It was great because we had teamwork. Everybody did everything they had to do in all their positions,” said head coach Maggie Royo, who mentored the team along with assistant coach Tonette Gambito.
The Lady Dragons squad that competed in the PNG comprised Philippine Lady Volcanoes team manager Mae Ann Ubaub, Mary Evangeline Agbay, Monica Bolofer, Medea Mercado, Barbie Salida, Astrid Sadaya, Jessica Asentista, Paola Pileo, Rizza Malinao, Abigail Go and Danielle Daniel.
Cebu Lady Dragons has produced some great rugby players, the likes of Aiumi Ono, Madille Salinas and Dixie Star Yu, who was in the Philippine Lady Volcanoes squad that grabbed the bronze medal in the recent Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.
“The All Ladies Cebu 10s on July 11 will be next for the team, in which we will be up against teams from other countries,” said Royo.
The 2nd Annual International Ladies Cebu 10s Rugby Festival is slated on July 11 on the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) pitch. The Cebu Lady Dragons will take on visiting teams from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Manila.
Meanwhile, after winning a bronze medal in Stage 1 of the road race event, Cebu's cycling stalwart Ana Patricia “Ica” Maximo capped her stint in the PNG with a silver medal in Stage 2, which was an Individual Time Trial (ITT) yesterday in Bugarin, Rizal.
The YKKBikes.com marquee rider clocked 29 minutes and 58 seconds in the ITT 10K course and placed second to Irish Wong of Olongapo, who had a time of 28:39. Toni Krog of Caloocan finished the race in 30:42 to take the bronze medal.
Despite the rain, fog and unfamiliar route, the Cebuana rider and Batang Pinoy national champion held her ground and kept pace with one of the country's best young riders until reaching the steep slope finish at the Bugarin Hills in Rizal.
“I was scared because the road was slippery but I kept on praying that I won’t fall off my bike,” said the fourth year student of Sacred Heart School Hijas de Jesus.
The two-time Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) awardee improved her bronze medal performance in the Stage 1 road race last Saturday, and will come home with two medals for Cebu City.
"I'm so happy I have contributed two medals for my hometown Cebu City. It was hard to race outside of Cebu. I have to travel and it was tiring. I have to miss school but the sacrifice is all worth it," said Maximo.