SEAG medal next goal for lady booters

MANILA, Philippines — Now that it is a World Cup team, the history-making Philippine women’s football squad will go into its next competition, the Southeast Asian Games, with bigger, higher expectations.

“Wala pa tayong gold sa football sa SEA Games so hopefully this is history again sa SEA Games,” Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta said on the motivation the ladies will have for the pandemic-delayed conclave.

The Philippine booters’ best showing in the biennial meet was a bronze medal in women’s football, won in a three-team field in 1985 in Bangkok.

In 2019 on home soil, the Filipinas fell short of a podium finish as they conceded a 2-1 loss to Myanmar in the battle for third.

Looming as the biggest threats to a breakthrough gold for the 64th-ranked Pinay bets are world No. 38 holder Thailand, silver medalist Vietnam (32nd), and Myanmar (47th).

“We’ll be facing Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, which are ranked higher than us. It will be a good gauge on how the team will progress later on,” said Araneta.