MANILA – Barotac Nuevo’s Ian Araneta was one of the key booters for the Philippines national football team that made history by reaching the semifinals stage of the 2010 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup, according to his former Azkals teammate Rob Gier.
The former Azkals captain said the hat-trick of the Ilonggo Araneta during their 5-0 crashing of Timor Leste in the qualifying round was the difference maker for the national football team as they made it into the tournament’s group stage for the first time in history.
“If Ian Araneta hadn’t scored a hat-trick against Timor Leste, we wouldn’t have qualified because we had the same number of points as Laos and Cambodia,” the Filipino-English Gier recalled during an Usapang Football webcast interview with Rick Olivares.
He added: “We only qualified (to the group stage) by the absolute skin of our teeth. We won our first qualifying game against Timor Leste and then drew with Laos (2-2) and Cambodia (0-0).”
According to Gier, a defender, he is glad to be part of the Azkals that reached the semifinals stage of the Suzuki Cup a decade ago as the country’s football was given a rebirth.
“I find myself talking about it (the 2010 Suzuki Cup) a lot recently as it is the 10th anniversary. This pandemic has made you take stock of things. I love everything about it,” Gier said.
“The 2010 Suzuki Cup was the milestone in my career and one of the biggest things I did as a player. It was a special time with a special group of players under special circumstances,” he added.
Gier started his Azklas stint in 2009. He then took the role of captain in 2014 following the retirement of Barotac-Nuevo winger Emelio Caligdong.
The Filipino-English defender retired from the national team in 2015 after making over 60 appearances and scoring two goals./PN
