As Philippine Women’s National Football Team coach Mark Torcaso observed an exhibition match featuring two squads of Filipinas players — an event that capped off a nine-day training camp and inaugurated the new MOA Football Pitch in Pasay — he kept one eye on the future.
Compared to last year, the Filipinas have a packed schedule ahead as they prepare to defend their title in the 2025 AFF Women’s Championship and vie for gold in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
It feels like the perfect time to open another glorious chapter in the team’s growing legacy.
“Obviously, there were a lot of new faces in the environment today, but this was an opportunity for us to build a training camp that would prepare us for the year,” said the former Western United mentor.
“We know we’ll have a very busy year, and while there were some new faces, it was also a really good opportunity to have a match like this because we got to see all our players compete in a really good exhibition game — and obviously in a brand-new facility as well,” he went on.
“So for us, it was really about building and creating a nice, big pool of players ever since I started this job. It’s building toward another World Cup, obviously, which includes the Asian Cup qualifiers, the Asian Cup itself, the AFF, and the SEA Games in between. Hopefully, everyone came out to talk and tell them, and it’s just about building on our group of players over the next couple of weeks to make sure we’ve got a nice, strong team coming into the backend of this year.”
In front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, the match ended in an entertaining 1-1 draw, with Alex Carpio and Meryll Serrano scoring the goals.
While an intra-squad match cannot replicate the intensity of an international friendly, Torcaso felt pleased with his players’ performances, especially some of the younger talents.
(C) PFF/PWNFT
“Let’s be honest, there were two or three young players out there — (Ariana) Markey, Alexa Pino, Bella Pasion — who are part of our U-20 team. They’re constantly developing and surprising us. That is what it’s about — having these players in this environment to improve,” said the 43-year-old coach.
“We saw Inday Tolentin come on, and she was excellent. She’s someone who is a big part of our project moving forward. We had Erma (Balacua) join our environment as well. For us, again, it’s just about creating a nice, big pool of players and having good, strong options so we can be very competitive in the future,” he continued.
“Jamie (Turrentine) is someone I’ve tracked for a very long time, and I know that previous coaches have also followed her. She’s a very important player, and she’s someone we want for the future. But obviously, there’s a process in place to get her playing for us. Jamie is going to be an excellent inclusion, and she constantly proves herself, as we saw today.”
Just like any Filipino team — whether in collegiate, professional, or international competition — recruitment is key. The recent success of the Filipinas has shown how crucial this process is, as one of Asia’s rising teams strengthened its roster to earn a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
For an international coach, having a strong pool of players to choose from is essential, especially since they cannot simply sign players the way professional clubs do.
In the case of the Philippines, its vast diaspora has opened doors for Filipinos developed abroad who now seek to represent their homeland.
For Torcaso, maintaining a steady pipeline of talent is crucial for the country’s long-term competitiveness on the global stage.
“I mean, the great thing is there are so many Filipinos all around the world,” he said. “Having the opportunity to bring 10, 11 new players into this camp provides competition for us. So, you know, there was a lot of discussion around why we’re playing (not) against another country.
“I believe in competition, and playing against our own players — our own girls — they’re going to be part of our future. So for me, it was a really good contest. Honestly, I don’t separate experience from non-experience. The way I look at it, we’re all one, and we work together for a common goal — and that’s to get to another World Cup, qualify for the Asian Cup, and, of course, win the AFF and the SEA Games.”
