Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso expressed his satisfaction with the Filipinas’ performance at the 19th Asian Games in China.
This marked Torcaso’s first competition with the Filipinas, following his appointment after former mentor Alen Stajcic moved to Perth Glory. The journey proved to be quite an adventure.
The Filipinas embarked on a four-game campaign in the Asiad, securing victories over Hong Kong and Myanmar while facing losses against formidable opponents South Korea and Japan. Their remarkable journey brought the nation back to the last eight for the first time since 1958, when the Azkals achieved a similar feat.
Torcaso remarked, “This was an amazing opportunity for us to work with the group of players that we’ve only had for maybe four or five training sessions. We’re very happy with the results we achieved.
“Getting two wins and two losses against two very good teams was a great outcome for us. Beating Myanmar was a significant achievement for us. Despite challenges like losing players who returned to their clubs, we were pleased with the group’s conduct and approach throughout the tournament.”
With the Filipinas’ campaign now concluded, Torcaso and his staff are focused on the future. They plan to leverage the experience gained from handling the Filipinas in this tournament to better prepare for the second round of qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, set to be held in Perth, Australia, in a few weeks.
In Group A, the Filipinas will face tough opponents such as Chinese Taipei, host nation Australia, and Iran. Only the top team will secure a direct ticket to the third round, while the second-place finisher will depend on other group results.
Torcaso outlined their plan: “We’ll spend the next week or two preparing for this because it’s a tight turnaround. Players will return home, and we’re excited about the opportunity to compete in the Olympic qualifiers in Australia and give ourselves a chance to enter the Olympics.”
Reflecting on the Asian Games experience, he said, “We gathered valuable insights from this competition. It allowed us to assess our players’ strengths and weaknesses, which we can work on. We’ll communicate with the players in the coming days and prepare the program for our campaign in Australia.
“We aim to win 2 1/2 to three games in that tournament and progress to the next round of Olympic qualifiers. We’re committed to being well-prepared and giving ourselves the best possible chance.”
The Philippines has yet to participate in Olympic football, whether at the men’s, under-23 men’s, or women’s levels. Achieving qualification for next year’s Parisian games would be a significant milestone, solidifying their status as a top international team.
Fortunately, Torcaso will have a strong pool of players for selection. Now, it’s up to him and his staff to craft a program that will lead to success despite another demanding turnaround.
“As I understand it, almost every player is available for that competition, which gives us a pleasant challenge as coaches because we had some fantastic performances in this tournament,” he noted.
He concluded, “Our plan includes spending some time together before arriving in Perth, and we’ll also have numerous Zoom calls and one-on-one conversations with the players in the coming weeks to discuss our strategies and playing style. With the mutual understanding we’ve developed, it’s much easier to convey our message. We’ll prepare diligently and give our best effort to make the country proud.”
