The Philippine Football Federation announced the 22 players who shall represent the country in the upcoming 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Group H qualification matches, which will take place at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore from October 25 to 31.
These include Azkals Development Team members Oliver Bias, Mark Winhoffer, and Quincy Kammeraad; and United City’s Justin Baas, whom coach Scott Cooper called up when the Philippine Azkals finished off their joint 2022 FIFA World Cup/2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Sharjah, UAE.
Photo from PFF
Other players from the ADT were Christian Rontini, Dennis Chung, Jethro Borlongan, Yrick Gallantes, Mandy Ignacio, Oskari Kekkonen; Sandro Reyes – who was part of the FC Barcelona Escola; Mark Francis Swainston, and Ivan Ouano.
Goalkeepers Jessie Semblante and Enrico Mangaoang from Mendiola FC and De La Salle University; Paolo Niccola Perez from Calcio Lecco in Italy; David Kevin Setters from England’s Portsmouth; Nathan Rilloraza, former Green Archer Shanden Vergara of Lincoln Memorial University; United City’s Kieran Hayes; Miguel Antonio Mendoza; and Randers FC’s Jens Sebastian Rasmussen cap off the rest of the lineup.
The Filipinos need to top Group H to formally enter the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, which shall be held in Uzbekistan on June 1-19, 2022. A second-placed finish might be good enough provided that the Philippines finishes in the top four of the runner-up standings.
The team prepared for the tournament by conducting a bubble setup in Lipa, Batangas. Their main facility was the Aboitiz Pitch. They are currently in Doha, Qatar, to finish their preparations.
The Philippines goes up against South Korea on Monday, 5:00 PM; host nation Singapore next Thursday, 8:00 PM; and Timor Leste on October 31, 5:00 PM.
