JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

The team is on the pitch. The game starts in 37 minutes.

The media tent not only has pore-vision, it has wi-fi, drinks, snacks, and electrical outlets! Yay first world!

And the speakers are playing If I Were A Boy by Beyonce. As in, If I were a boy you would take my rugby coverage more seriously and not just because at this gig I’m covering for GMA News, Philippine Star, Esquire and my site.

This is the starting line-up.

1. Loose head: Austin Dacanay
2. Hooker: Phil Abraham
3. Tighthead: Richard Taylor
4. Lock: Nick Pineda
5. Lock: Jaime Urquijo
6. Flanker: Raf Zappia
7. Flanker: Chris Hitch
8. Number 8: Michael De Guzman
9. Scrum Half: Jake Letts
10. Fly Half: Oliver Saunders
11. Wing: Joven Clarke
12. Centre: Justin Coveney
13. Centre: Gareth Holgate
14. Wing: Matthew Saunders
15. Fullback: Michael Letts (Captain)

* * * * *

Change in the line-up: Tyler Perry Perez is Number 8. Wait. Michael de Guzman is injured. Chris Hitch takes over the Number 8. Kit Guerra starts at forward.

* * * * *

The national anthems have been sung. The match begins in a minute.

* * * * *

First to Korea. #11, Kim. Misses the conversion, 0-5.

Joven Clarke stops a Korean breakaway.

Off-hand I would say the Philippines has a slight advantage in height, Korea in width.

#8 Korea scores a try. #15 converts.

Suddenly it’s sunny.

The coaching staff is screaming Come on boys, that’s all they’ve got!!! But they’ve got the ball more often.

Penalty to the Philippines. We’re on the board! 3-15, kicked in by Oliver Saunders.

Korea try. #10. #15 converts. 3-22.

Volcanoes Captain Michael Letts gets hit and covered by a pile of behemoths.

TRY TO THE PHILIPPINES! Joven Clarke scores, 8-22. Saunders misses the conversion, unusual.

(Dammit I got the sequence on video but when Joven made the try a post got in the shot!)

Joven Clarke is Fil-Aussie, born in Cebu, moved to Australia 26 years ago. The first thing we heard about him is that he’s Fast.

We’re awake!!! The first half has just ended. Second half in 10 minutes.

What is Korea doing right? They’re getting the ball, they’re keeping the ball and going out wide. And they’ve got pace. The Philippines keeps losing possession, particularly in the line-outs. Few opportunities so far. But as the observers point out, it’s one thing to say it and another thing to do it.

The second half has begun.

Substitution: Josh Sutcliffe has come in for Richard Taylor.

MICHAEL LETTS SCORES A TRY! 13-22. We’ve got a match!!!

Lettsy has just been signed by a team in Nagoya, Japan. Most players have pro rugby careers and then go into business, Michael Letts is a mortgage broker who’s starting his pro career. Good work.

Great hands by Korea. 13-27.

Michael Duhig is sent in for Kit Guerra. “This is your big comeback!” Manager Matt yells (Michael D didn’t play at A5N last year.) “It’s yours!”

Substitution of the Nicks, Perry for Pineda.

A great tackle by Chris Hitch foils a Korean play. Chris is the man in this match.

We finally win a line-out! Nick Perry. And. . .somehow the ball ends up with the Koreans.

Good hit by Justin Coveney. Something must come of this play. . .which is broken up by Korea.

GO GAZ!!! GARETH HOLGATE CARRIES THE BALL TO THE LINE AND PASSES OFF TO MATTY SAUNDERS FOR THE TRY! 18-27. Converted by Oliver Saunders, 20-27. The Philippines is a try and a conversion away from tying.

And there goes Joven Clarke! RUN!!!

Aaaaaaargh. Great debut for Joven though, this is his first cap.

A Korea try in the last minute shuts the door on the Philippines. 20-32. Converted.

Final score: 20-34. Close.

Korea is in the final against Singapore. The Philippines faces Malaysia on Saturday for 3rd place (to stay in Division 1).

This was a close match, the score is no indicator of how close it was. We made errors and so did the opposition, but they took advantage of ours to score tries. We could tell the Koreans were worried.

There were moments when the Volcanoes could’ve taken it—at the start of the second half when Lettsy scored that try, then in the dying minutes of the game. Gentlemen don’t complain about the officiating, but I am not a gentleman: Korea was allowed to waste time towards the end.

I doubt there’s anything we could say to the Philippine team that would make them feel better about this loss, but you did well out there. This is your first loss in A5N ever and you will come back, stronger and faster.

You make us proud.

See you on Saturday.

Thanks to everyone who logged on and posted comments; good to have an audience. I counted 5 people in the stadium cheering for the Volcanoes, but the Koreans didn’t muster a crowd either (It’s a workday).

The liveblog of the Philippines vs. Korea semifinal at the A5N Division 1 Championships in Ansan, Korea is brought to you by Globe. Enjoy Your Globe. Your Way.