79th-minute heartbreaker Azkals narrowly miss 2nd draw

MANILA, Philippines — There were no late heroics this time, only heartbreak.

The Philippine Azkals came up short against Myanmar, dropping a 1-2 decision in men’s football and hampering its medal drive in the 30th SEA Games at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium last night.

Brimming with confidence after salvaging a 1-1 draw with Cambodia Monday, the Azkals forced a one-goal standoff at the half courtesy of Justin Baas, who atoned for his miscue earlier that led to Myanmar’s Myat Kaung Khant shot that got past through the legs of Phl keeper Anthony Pinthus in the 17th minute.

But the hosts equalized as Dennis Chung, who delivered the match-tying goal at the finish against Cambodia, chested a cross down to Baas, who slashed the ball into the goal midway through the first half.

But Myanmar, which missed wresting the lead as Htet Phyoe Wai misfired in the 40th minute, regained control on a Win Naing Tun’s effort in the 79th minute, and the Azkals failed to counter the rest of the way.

The loss dropped the Azkals to one draw and one loss in Group A and would need to hurdle fancied Malaysia tomorrow to bounce back in the medal hunt.

Myanmar, which also held Malaysia to a draw in the opening day, now has four points.

Earlier, all the Pinay bets succumbed to top class opposition as Thailand smothered the host, 64-29, in women’s netball at Sta. Rosa Multi-Sports Complex in Laguna and Singapore clobbered the Phl, 18-9, in women’s water polo in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

Meanwhile, back in form and in the hunt, the Philippine polo team plunges back into action today eyeing no less than a victory over winless Indonesia and a crack at the gold against fancied Brunei.

Vicente Bitong, Stefano Juban, Miguel Lopez and Augustus Aguirre brim with confidence as they set out against the Indonesians in their crucial 1 p.m. clash at the Iñigo Zobel Polo Facility in Calatagan, Batangas following an 8 1/2-5 romp over Malaysia in the second day of action in Division A 4-6 Goals Qualifying League Tuesday.

That victory made up for the team’s heartbreaking 8-8 1/2 setback to Brunei Sunday with the hosts upbeat of their chances to chalk up another win over the team that dropped a 7 1/2-11 loss to Malaysia and 4-7 setback to Brunei.

Another victory would seal a rematch with unbeaten Brunei for the gold on Sunday.

Meanwhile, action in Division B 0-2 Goals Qualifying League gets going on Dec. 3 at the Miguel Romero Polo Facility, also in Calatagan, with Party-List Rep. Mikee Romero dedicating his stint to his late son Miguel. Other members of the squad are Coco Garcia, Nicole Eusebio, Jam Eusebio and Santi Juban.

Over in Capas, Tarlac, the Philippines steps up its medal drive in men’s water polo as it faces Thailand at 7 tonight at the New Clark Aquatics Center.

The Pinoys salvaged a 6-6 standoff with 2017 silver medal winner Indonesia last Tuesday on Paolo Serrano’s late heroics but the hosts will need more than luck against the Thais, who blasted the Malaysians, 19-5, in their side of the match.

The Phl women’s polo team will also take on Thailand at 10 a.m. today.

In floorball, preliminaries, the Phl women’s squad, which debuted with an 8-1 rout over Indonesia Monday, tries to recover from a 3-6 setback to Thailand Tuesday as it tangles with Singapore at 1 p.m. at the UP CHK gym in Quezon City with its men’s counterpart also set to square off with Singapore at 7 p.m.