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By Regina Shiroma

Zombie Ninjas’ Kayla Taguacta tries to get a touch on a Dylan Aguon. (photo by Asha Robles)

In only its second year running, the Heineken Beach Touch Rugby tournament at the Beach at Gun Beach gathered twenty eight-manned teams, compared to last year’s fourteen, and attracted even more fans.

A variety of players, old and young, lined the beachside as there was no age limit to co-ed tournament. There was also an interesting array of team names like the “Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies,” “Chief Squatting Bull,” and the ironic team name,“Don’t Touch Me.”

In one of the thirty matches of the day, the Paradise Zombie Ninjas beat team Dada Diamonds five tries to one. In the second half, the Abisia brothers, Joshua and Jeric, and the Taguacta sisters, Cera, Kayla, and Kimberly, worked together to get the ball across the sand, and though in an unorthodox way, they made it work eventually allowing Kimberly Taguacta to score. In a quick pick on the ball, Kayla Taguacta opened a gap in the defense, which gave sister Cera Taguacta a clear shot to the try zone. Jeric Abisia scored a try of his own, incepting the pass right at the try zone for an easy score. Paradise Zombie Ninjas’ Nate Baza scored his teams first two tries. Dylan Aguon scored Dada Diamonds’ only try just barely slipping past the defense.

Dylan Aguon scores a try after slipping through the Zombie Ninjas’ defense. (photo by Asha Robles)

Even though under favorable weather, one could tell that running through the sand proved to be a good workout, but a quick dunk into the ocean would be enough to cool down.

Tournament Format

The two-day tournament is in pool play format comprising of five pools. Each game consist of two five minute halves, with five a-side. Based on Saturday’s results, teams will move on to their respective finals matches on Sunday.

Sunday’s Schedule:

12:00 – Game 1: 17 Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies v. 20 Fire Ballers
12:15 – Game 2: 18 Don’t Touch Me v. 19 Heineken Ninja Turtles

12:30 – Game 3: 9 Seeweed Blazers v. 16 Odd Balls White
12:45 – Game 4: 10 Triton Mermaids v. 15 Yakitori Japan
1:00 – Game 5: 11 Graduates v. 14 Odd Balls Black
1:15 – Game 6: 12 Chief Squatting Bull v. 13 Soul Shrimps

1:30 – Game 7: 1 Paradise Zombie Ninjas v. 8 Crazy Eights
1:45 – Game 8: 2 Da Smurfs v. 7 DaDa Diamonds
2:00 – Game 9: 3 Goblin Chiefs v. 6 Disasters
2:15 – Game 10: 4 Beach Bums v. 5 Bad Beaches

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

A Dada Diamonds defender gets the touch on Zombie Ninjas’ Jerric Abisia. (photo by Asha Robles)

Kimberly Taguacta looks for a teammate to pass to. (photo by Asha Robles)

Zombie Ninjas’ Kayla Taguacta kicks the ball to start the play. (photo by Asha Robles)

Zombie Ninjas’ defenders swarm Dylan Aguon as he tries to look for an open teammate.

Cera Taguacta gets her hands on the loose ball and looks for an open teammate. (photo by Asha Robles)

Cera Taguacta gets the touch on a Dada Diamonds runner. (photo by Asha Robles)

Zombie Ninja defenders barely get the touch on a Dada Diamonds runner. (photo by Asha Robles)

Dada Diamonds teammates help each other out to get to the try zone. (photo by Asha Robles)

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