Cebu Pink Dragons
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From left to right: Catherine Caloyong, Madille Salinas, Marie Antonette Gambito, Eloisa Jordan, Caryl Vangeli Montera, Jessica Anne Filoteo, Rose Mae Lanticse, Mary Margaret Royo, Jennifer Pondoc, Jacquiline Gene Damayo, Blessie Kate de los Santos, Ann Kristine May Layumas, Maria Leabianca Canama, Cherry Mae Manaug (absent: Aiumi Ono, Marietta Vizcarra, Jocelyn Gudmalin, Raezil Sumayan, Marianne Claire Gloria, Rachelle Cumba) |
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The Cebu Pink Dragons started as a ladies' touch rugby team in 2006 under the banner of Cebu City Rugby Football Club. It only had as few as six players back then. But through the continuous promotion of the sport and relentless player recruitment, members proliferated as the young and the old, as well as the guys, gathered together at Camp Lapu-Lapu grounds every Sunday, mainly for fun and social camaraderie. For years, the team has struggled forming a formidable squad as most of the players have to "shy away" from the game due to uncontrollable reasons and circumstances.
Just November of last year, there was a significant influx of new recruits during the Cebu Touch Rugby League. And with the players' desire and dedication to learn and further develop their game, it boosted the chances of building up a core, forming a solid rugby team. Comprised mainly of athletes from different sporting backgrounds, it was still an arduous task for everyone to get into the nick of things, mainly because of the physical nature of the sport. And because of constant practice and more members giving their commitment to the team, the Pink Dragons were able to undertake their first tour and compete at the 3rd Manila Touch Rugby Tournament, where they placed 3rd, last March 2009.
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Through the patient and delicate tutelage of Philippine international Noel Flowers and Jerry Branzuela, the ladies' transition to full-contact became relatively easy. The men's Dragons Rugby Challenge (DRC) series opened up the door to those who wanted to elevate their game. Mary Margaret Royo, the current team captain, and Rose Mae Lanticse had a first taste of full-contact rugby when they played for the Black Dragons in the first instalment of DRC against local rivals the Low Flying Dragons. Then with Royo and Lanticse, both Jennifer Pondoc and Blessie de los Santos, soon followed when all four of them played for the Barbarians squad during the Cebu 10's International Rugby Festival last April 2009. Lanticse, Pondoc and de los Santos went on to play the next instalment of DRC, this time suiting up for the Low Flying Dragons team.
A significant event happened to the CCRFC when coach Rick Hartley, who guided the Philippine 7's team to a silver medal finish in the 2007 SEA Games, conducted a short rugby clinic last May. Hartley infused new techniques and ideas to the players especially with the Pink Dragons. On May 31, 2009, a couple of weeks later, marked the birth of women's rugby in Cebu as the Pink Dragons this time as a team comprised of two 7's squads, had a remarkable debut to full-contact rugby. The Pink Dragons continue to train and play full contact rugby as they aspire to represent Cebu in various local tournaments and hopefully some of them will make it to the Philippine national women's rugby team and be able to compete against the other national teams in the SEA region.
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Click on the images to enlarge
Text courtesy: Blessie Kate de los Santos
Images courtesy: Jennifer Pondoc
