The Philippine men’s national floorball team can now finally call themselves champions.
The rise of the Nationals found its deserved resolution after a decisive 6-5 victory over regional rival Thailand in the final of the 2024 Men’s Floorball World Championship Asia Oceania Qualifiers on Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
It all boiled down to efficiency on the power play and subsequent offensive sets. Two of the squad’s best scorers, Melvin Alm Mendoza and Lucas Werelius, clicked at the opportune time.
With seven minutes left in the final and the score tied at five, Mendoza found some space on the flank. He drove the ball into the box, and Werelius was there to tap it in for the decisive goal.
“We came here wanting to qualify for the Worlds and to take gold. And we did both, so it’s over,” said Mendoza, who also surpassed 70 career points after the group phase match against the Thais.
The Philippines needed to come through three times after scoring the opening goal, as Pawat Thaidit, Simon Johansson, and Santipong Sukkasem put Thailand marginally ahead of the hosts.
Two consecutive goals in the third period, however, sent the hosts back into the driver’s seat with Mendoza and Vargas breaking Yotsaphong Chaiphring’s guard.
Lucas Phraiwan leveled the match one last time for the visitors, but the day eventually belonged to the Philippines
Mendoza, the country’s top scorer, sealed the result on his terms.
Meanwhile, Australia secured the other ticket to the Worlds later this year after a 4-3 victory in the third-place playoff against Singapore.
Defense played a key role for the Aussies, as only one goal came through in the third period from the Southeast Asians, with opportunities coming few and far between for the former.
Japan, on the other hand, completed a come-from-behind overtime win against Korea, 5-4, to finish in fifth place.
The Philippines avenged its losses in the previous Worlds Qualifiers and last year’s SEA Games against the same team.
“We have played Thailand in so many important games, so I’m happy to finally get this gold in front of the hometown fans. I guess that’s the difference,” concluded Mendoza, the Hagunda IF upstart.
