The line between glory and heartbreak is a thin one. Coaches and players deal with intense pressure to win games and even championships. When it comes to the players, though, it is them who need to perform at the maximum level in order to win games.
While individual talent can win you games, only proper teams are those which are capable of getting the championship. There are many factors which a team needs to be successful. Perhaps what it needs most, though, are team chemistry and inner strength.
For veteran defender Natasha Alquiros, the current composition of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team is as good as it possibly can be. “What I like about this is that there’s a balance between all the Filipino-Americans and the local players. So you lift up the level of the local players and at the same time you have Fil-Ams to help you get to the next level as well,” the defender said.
The Sikat Football Club player strongly believed that local players proved that they shouldn’t be seen as second-class to their Filipino-Foreign counterparts. “Who is our number one goalkeeper? Inna Palacios. Who is our center-back last tournament and this tournament? It’s still Alesa Dolino. They’ve really proved how good they are and it’s just nice to bring out the best seeds from the UAAP and whatever tournament plus the Fil-Ams, everyone’s on the same level.”
However, it wasn’t only the ladies’ ethnic roots which needed to be addressed. Alquiros admitted that the players were going through a lot of struggles, although she stated that none of them were getting discouraged.
“Regardless of whatever (gets) thrown at us or whatever happens, I know that we’re a strong team. I’d say stronger than a lot of people, whether they’re men or women. I think this team with the things that we’ve gone through and no matter what we go through, I think we’re a bunch of very strong people physically and mentally.”
In the end, Alquiros had a positive outlook on the team. “It’s nice to play with girls who are on the same level as you, the sense of competition, the commitment and of course the heart to play.” She then stated her belief that this year’s lineup had more options than its predecessor.
With the 2016 AFF Women’s Championship to be held in Myanmar just a day away, Alquiros and the rest of the PWNT squad hope to get past the group stages which would be a massive achievement.
The PWNT face Thailand on matchday one (July 26, 2016; 4:00PM KO), then Vietnam exactly two days later. Both teams are juggernauts dominating the Southeast Asian arena. Their third group stage game will be against Singapore (July 30, 2016; 7:00PM). If the PWNT at least enters the semi-finals, then maybe the team’s chemistry and inner strength could be what drives them all the way.
*With reports from Mia Montayre
