EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Filipino-British James Halasan Ryan said the country's Junior Volcanoes team played well but struggled in the execution department in the recently-concluded Asia Rugby U19s Championships Division 1 held at the International School of Manila.
United Kingdom-based Ryan, 18, reinforced the Junior Volcanoes team that lost to Malaysia, 19-36, in their bronze medal match.
The United Arab Emirates emerged champion after beating South Korea, 19-12.
"We did play pretty good intensity but we lacked execution, having only five days to work together whereas many other teams played months and months," Ryan said during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum held Thursday at Hukad Restaurant, SM City Davao.
He was thankful for the opportunity to come and play for the Philippines again.
Ryan, whose father Edward is a British scientist and mother Fe a Dabawenya nurse, added, "The experience was quite the same as last year, very excited! We had lots of fun together."
He said that he already played with some of his current teammates in past junior Volcanoes teams although a few were newcomers.
"We already built friendship that really helped alot of times (in the game)," he said, praising his teammates for the great games they played together despite the small time they spent training as a team.
Ryan took a flight from London to Manila by himself early this month to join the U19 Junior Volcanoes team's training camp set December 8 to 12. The Junior Volcanoes played December 13 and 16. He then arrived in Davao City to celebrate Christmas with his relatives from her mother's side. He is slated to return to his birth country by December 27 to welcome the New Year with his parents.
His U19 stint was the second time he suited up for the Junior Volcanoes this year. He also joined the U20 Junior Volcanoes team that competed in the U20 Asia Rugby Sevens Championships in Hong Kong last August.
The judo blackbelt also won gold medals and silvers for Davao City in Batang Pinoy regional and national judo and wrestling competitions in the past.
He also played for the Philippine U19 Junior Volcanoes and the Philippine U18 Junior Volcanoes team last year (Taiwan) then for the U16 squad in 2015 (Malaysia).
Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey, who was also a guest during the DSA Forum, thanked Ryan "for playing for the Philippines".