AUSTRALIAN coach Alen Stajcic and his staff have formed a formidable 20-man roster for the Filipinas, who will gun for a second straight podium finish when the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games women’s football tournament kicks off this Wednesday at the RCAF Old Stadium in Phnom Penh.
The Filipinas, who face Myanmar in their opening match in Group A, are loaded up front, bannered by irrepressible striker Sarina Bolden while Isabella Flanigan, Chandler McDaniel and veteran Quinley are the added scoring sock, the team’s official accounted twitted over the weekend.
Expected to control the ball in midfield and ensure a smooth transition from offense to defense and back are the quintet of Sara Eggesvik, Anicka Castaneda, Carleigh Frilles, Isabella Pasion, Jaclyn Sawicki, Natalie Oca and Sabine Ramos.
Veteran defenders Hali Long and Eva Madarang are the linchpins in the back row that also include Maya Alcantara, Alicia Barker, Reina Bonta, Malea Cesar and Sofia Harrison while tapped for last line of defense were Olivia McDaniel and Kiara Fontanilla.
Named reserves are goalkeeper Inna Palacios and Chantelle Maniti.
Stajcic’s World Cup-bound charges will enjoy a slight psychological edge over the Burmese, whom they beat 2-1 in the battle for the bronze medal in the Vietnam SEA Games last year.
The Nationals tackle Malaysia on Saturday, before capping their group campaign against two-time defending champion Vietnam on May 9.
The Philippine Under-22 squad coached by former Azkals skipper Robert Gier took a 0-3 beating from Indonesia last Saturday at the start of its drive in Group A of the men’s tournament at the Morodok Techno Stadium.
The Pinoy U-22 booters take on host Cambodia, which whipped Timor Leste 4-0 in the other Group A match, tomorrow at the same venue.
