2 wins mark Philippine booters fiery start

KUALA LUMPUR – The Philippines got its campaign in the 29th Southeast Asian Games football competitions off to a flying start with inspiring victories in both the men’s U-22 and women’s squads Tuesday night.

The U-22 booters banked on Raymart Cubon and Kouichi Belgira’s second-half goals to score a vengeful 2-0 victory over Cambodia – the country’s first in the SEA Games since 2011 and first over the Cambodians since 2005 – in the Group B opener at Selayang Stadium.

The victory, which avenged Phl’s 0-1 setback to the Cambodians in the recent AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers in Phnom Penh, put the Filipinos on level with Vietnam, which routed Timor Leste, 4-0, on points but second overall on goal difference.

Also picking up the full three points were the Filipina booters, who edged the host Malaysians, 2-1, over at the UiTM Stadium.

Cubon nodded home a Jarvey Gayoso corner five minutes after restart to give Phl the lead. Fi-Japanese Belgira doubled the margin late in the match, sending a free kick to the bottom corner to cap the victory.

“This win is the start of our journey to the semifinals,” said Phl U-22 coach Marlon Maro, who has set a Last-4 target for the side. “The players were able to execute according to our plan. We prepared hard for this game.”

The Phl U-22 next faces Indonesia, which showed grit in holding holders Thailand to a 1-1 stalemate.

“Indonesia has good scorers and wingers but we will be ready for them, especially on the defensive end,” said Maro.