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Philips

Urawa on sevens mission

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J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds will be looking for back-to-back titles at the HKFC Philips Lighting International Sevens, which this year will be extended to a third day over the weekend of May 19-21.

Urawa Red Diamonds won the sevens at the first time of asking last year and they will be looking to Argentine teenager Sergio Escudero for inspiration after the 17-year-old helped his team to victory with one of the displays of the tournament.

'Sergio's on the verge of playing in the senior team and I think he'll be back to help his team defend their title,' said organising committee chairman Tony Bratsanos.

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Escudero scored a wonder third goal - his fifth of the tournament - to put the icing on the cake in the Red Diamonds' comprehensive 3-0 victory over Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the 2005 final and the Japanese side, who fielded a line-up with an average age of just 17, are confident of a repeat success.

Previously a two-day affair, the tournament will now cover three, beginning on the Friday.

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The sevens will feature more than 20 international club sides competing in two competitions: the main tournament and the masters tournament.

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