RP booters make AFC main draw

VIENTIANE, Laos – The Philippines held Cambodia to a scoreless draw to advance to the main draw in the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Championship at the National Stadium here Monday night.

The Filipinos stepped up on defense to frustrate the Cambodians, who were left at the mercy of the result of the Laos-Timor Leste match later in the evening.

The RP booters finished with five points, after a 5-0 win over Timor Leste and back-to-back draws to Laos and Cambodia.

Depending on the outcome of the second match, RP could top the tournament, which would send it to the main tournament in December either in Group A with host Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

Should they finish runner-up, on the other hand, the Filipinos will go to Group B with host Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar. The group stages kick off in early December.

In 2008, they failed to get past the qualifying competition after getting nosed out by Cambodia on goal difference when the tournament was held in Phnom Penh.

“It’s very rewarding that the program we started has achieved its target,” said national team manager Dan Palami.

“We know it was going to be hard, but the players worked very hard to get to this level.”

The back four of Anton del Rosario, Rob Gier, Aly Borromeo and Ray Jonnson were up to the Cambodian challenge just like RP goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, and the Filipinos hung tough to secure the tie.

The Filipinos were forced to make two changes to the side that drew with Laos, 2-2, because of injuries and suspension.

Jonnson moved up to the left wing position occupied by the injured Chiefy Caligdong, who managed to play through the pain in the last 40 minutes in place of David Basa.

Army man Roel Gener also made his first start in the tournament, replacing the suspended Jason de Jong.