The Cebu Junior Dragons.
CONTRIBUTED
The Cebu Junior Dragons lost to the Alabang Eagles, 12-5, in the finals to settle for a silver medal in the Palawan Rugby Festival over the weekend at the Puerto Princesa Complex in Palawan.
The Junior Dragons showed positive signs early but couldn’t get past the Eagles — the top rugby team in the country — to finish second place.
After spitting fire early with a 29-0 beating of Palawan–A in their first game, the Junior Dragons suffered their first setback in the tournament with a 17-5 loss to the Eagles.
The Junior Dragons managed to blow past Palawan – B 21-7 to end the eliminations with a 2-1 (win-loss) record going into the finals.
Waiting there were an Eagles team that finished the eliminations with an unbeaten 3-0 slate.
The Junior Dragons couldn’t get through against the Eagles, who used their suffocating defense to hold the Cebuanos to a single try in the entire championship game.
“They panicked because they were against Alabang, which is the top team in the country,” said Junior Dragons coach Maggie Royo. “We really have a lot to improve, especially in terms of mental toughness and tackling skills.”
Royo said the team will take a one-week break before returning to training as they prepare for another tournament some time in November.