Despite a 3–0 setback against South Korea, Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso is choosing to focus on the long-term growth of his squad.
The defeat was the Philippines’ second in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, leaving the reigning Southeast Asian Games champions in a must-win situation for their final Group A match against Iran on Sunday to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
However, Torcaso remains encouraged by the individual performances against a continental powerhouse.
The 44-year-old mentor highlighted the resilience of his players — particularly younger members of the roster like Mallie Ramirez, Jael-Marie Guy, and Ariana Markey — who were tasked with facing one of Asia’s elite sides.
(C) AFC
“Obviously, not happy that we didn’t get the result we wanted, but very happy with the way the girls played,” Torcaso said about the Filipinas, who are supported by the Philippine Sports Commission in this endeavor.
“Very happy with a lot of our players pushing through another 90 minutes in a major competition, and in particular, a lot of our young girls getting experience in this national stage against one of the best teams in the competition.”
The coaching staff’s attention has now shifted entirely to recovery, as the upcoming match against Iran carries significant weight for the Philippines’ dream of reaching next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Given the tournament’s condensed schedule and the physical toll of the South Korea fixture — played in grueling heat and humidity following a 1:00 PM kickoff at Robina Stadium — the priority is ensuring the squad is fresh for its final group-stage hurdle.
While the Filipinas (ranked 41st in the world) enter Sunday’s clash against the 68th-ranked Lionesses as favorites, Torcaso is wary of complacency and is preparing his side for a difficult defensive battle with their tournament life on the line.
“More importantly, we just got to focus now on getting our girls recovered and getting them ready for that game,” noted the former Western United mentor.
“We know it’s going to be hard against Iran as well, but we are determined to make sure we get what we need to potentially get through the next stage, and that’s what we’re excited about.”
