Filipinas focused on retaining crown

Instead of worrying about powerhouse Australia, the national football team is focused on retaining the title when they collide in the ASEAN Women’s Championship at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho, Vietnam.

Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso said they are more concerned about their progress and chemistry — not on the Australians, who are sending their youth team in a bid to topple the Philippines in this prestigious regional event.

The Filipinas are battling the Australians at press time for a chance to post their second straight win.

“We don’t focus on other opponents. We focus on us, on what we need to do,” Torcaso said.

“Our target is to get out of the group, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen and play the maximum amount of games here in Vietnam.”

Torcaso said their main goal is to develop chemistry that they will use in competing in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March.

Aside from veterans Hali Long, Quinley Quezada, and Olivia McDaniel, the Filipinas also have the likes of Dionesa Tolentin, Aaliyah Schinaman and Adelaide Wyrzynski, who all scored in their 7-1 thrashing of Timor Leste last Thursday, in their roster.

“We have a very young team with players still developing to play for our country. It’s important for us to keep building through this tournament, into the SEA Games, and then the Asian Cup, because we want to go to another World Cup,” Torcaso said.

“We have a lot of work to do, and we’ll keep doing it for our country, for our fans back home, and for all Filipinos abroad.”