ASEAN futsal at PhilSports

MANILA, Philippines — It’s going to be a tall order against more established rivals in the ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship but host Philippines expressed readiness to take it head on.

“The national team is preparing well and we’re 100 percent confident,” player Isabella Bandoja said yesterday in a press conference graced by coach Vic Hermans, team manager Danny Moran and Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez.

At 59th in the FIFA rankings, the Pinays will go into the Nov. 16 to 21 competition at the PhilSports Arena as the underdogs versus World No. 6 Thailand, No. 11 Vietnam, No. 24 Indonesia and No. 37 Myanmar.

“Against tough teams, we’ll do our best to give a good result for the Philippines,” she added.

Hermans, a Dutch futsal coaching legend tapped by longtime futsal patron Henry V. Moran Foundation to help grow the game in the country, has assembled a crack 16-member team for this mission.

Joining ace striker Bandoja in the squad are Filipinas mainstay Alisha del Campo, Cathrine Graversen, Mykaella Abeto, Samantha Hughes, Kayla Santiago, Vrendelle Nuera, Princess Cristobas, Lanie Ortillo, Claire Lubetania, Agot Danton, Jada Bicierro, Althea Rebosura, Hazel Lustan, Louraine Evangelista and Angelica Teves.

The tourney will serve as kickoff of the Pinay 5’s one-year buildup for their stint in the grandest stage – the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s Cup in November next year that the country is also hosting.

“This is the first stage. We’re the lowest ranked team and it would be a very tough journey. But like I said, the journey has risks, challenges and we’re here to face them and I think with the right team, with the right combination, with our mutual help with the PFF, we can achieve a lot,” said Moran.