By: Icko De Guzman
PHU THO – Inday Tolentin couldn’t have asked for a better debut.
The 25-year-old forward from Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte introduced herself to international football with a dazzling brace in the second half, powering the Filipinas to a commanding 7-0 victory over Timor Leste in their opening match of the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup on Wednesday at Viet Tri Stadium here.
“I’m so happy that I scored in my debut,” said Tolentin, the former Far Eastern University standout now suiting up for Kaya-Iloilo.
“I made a deal with coach. He said if I score, I could hug him. That was my goal — I wanted to score for the Philippines.”
Tolentin opened her international account in the 57th minute, delivering a composed finish after latching onto a cross from the right flank.
Just seven minutes later, she completed her brace with a confident strike inside the box, putting the match even further out of reach for their opponents.
Her explosive debut drew praise from head coach Mark Torcaso, who also highlighted the impact of fellow debutants Aaliyah Schinaman and Adelaide Wyrzyski — both of whom added to the Filipinas’ goal tally — as well as promising newcomers Azumi Oka and former U-17 standout Isabella Alamo.
“I’m extremely proud of the players who either scored for the country for the first time, played their first match, or had their first start,” said Torcaso.
“It’s a special day for them, and for us as a team.”
With the opening win secured and three points in hand, the Filipinas now turn their attention to a tougher challenge against Australia on Sunday at the same venue.
“We’re going to focus on the next game,” said Tolentin.
“The team did really well today, but we know there’s more work to do.”
Torcaso echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that while the big win was a positive start, the team remains focused on a bigger goal.
“We’ve set ourselves a target of getting out of the group and progressing to the knockout stage,” he said.
“This is a good start — but now, all our focus shifts to the next two matches.”
#WATCH: A debut to remember! Inday Tolentino nets a brace and dedicates it to the country ⚽️ 🇵🇭
🎥 @ickodeg /Tiebreaker Times#LabanFilipinas #SerenityCup pic.twitter.com/pJaEWg8nDq
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) August 7, 2025
