Philippines XI hopeful on ASEAN Cup bid

MANILA, Philippines — Spanish coach Albert Capellas hopes for the best as the Philippine Men’s National Team aims for a historic triumph in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup next month.

Speaking at the Manila leg of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup Trophy Tour  last Saturday, Capellas vowed to whip the Filipino booters into best form possible for Southeast Asia’s top football tournament.

The Filipinos, who have reached the semifinals of the tourney four times – the last in 2018, are grouped with two-time champions Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar and Laos.

“I can promise that we will do our best to win the games,” said Capellas. “If that happens, let’s see what we can achieve in the finals and maybe we deserve to be here, alongside the other winners.”

Current players Simone Rota and Patrick Deyto, as well as former national team stars Misagh Bahadoran and Ali Borromeo attended the Trophy Tour events that included a football clinic at Tuloy sa Don Bosco in Muntinlupa.

“It’s about time we get our hands on the trophy,” said Deyto, a former De La Salle standout with a solid career that included a stint in the Thai League.

The trophy had a lengthy tour across Southeast Asia which began last September in Bangkok, and travelled to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Jakarta, before its final leg in Manila.