The Philippine national women’s football team braces for a tough title defense in the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup from 6 to 19 August in Hanoi after the groupings came out on Tuesday.

Australia will join the Filipinas in Group B along with Myanmar and Timor Leste.

Meanwhile, host Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand will be in Group A.

The Matildas have yet to announce as of press time whether they will send their U23 squad or their senior squad in the competition.

The Filipinas had contrasting results against the Australians.

In the 2022 edition of the MSIG Serenity Cup in Manila, the Filipinas won over the Matildas, 1-0, thanks to a 60th-minute goal from Sarina Bolden.

But against Australia’s senior squad, led by Women’s Super League stars Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, in the second round of the Paris Olympics Qualifying Tournament, the Filipinas lost 0-8 at Perth Stadium.

As the Filipinas are also preparing for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers starting on 29 June, head coach Mark Torcaso said they have a good problem with them as they try to assemble their best squad.

“That’s a very exciting prospect for us. We saw glimpses of what this team can become. We’re proud of this group, and they’re going to represent the country well. That’s what I’m looking forward to,” Torcaso said.