NEGRENSES Shanden Vergara and Joshua Broce will spearhead the Philippine U-22 national football team in the 2019 Merlion Cup slated from June 7 to 9 at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
Philippine Football Federation general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes said that the four-team invitational tournament will serve as Philippine squad’s build-up ahead of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
“This tournament is a perfect gauge for the team in their preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games,” Gastanes said in a statement. “This will serve as a litmus test to understand how ready the team is.”
Aside from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental natives Vergara and Broce, also in the team were Javier Gayoso, Dylan De Bruycker, Alexandre Arcilla, Michael Asong, Jose Miguel Clarino, Dean Ebarle, Pete Forrosuelo, Viejay Frigilliano and William Jay Grierson.
Also in the team were Christian Lapaz, Jerome Marzan, Roland Saavedra, Lorenzo Sabado Jr., John Renz Saldivar, Ray Sanciangco, Jeremiah Borlongan, Dimitri Limbo, Kyle Magdato, Mariano Suba Jr. and Kintaro Miyagi.
The Anto Gonzales-mentored Philippines will face Singapore at 7:30 tonight, while their next game will be on Sunday, which would either be the Final or a third place play-off game.
The Merlion Cup features U-22 national teams organized by the Football Association of Singapore. Aside from Philippines and Singapore, also competing in the tourney were Indonesia and Thailand./PN
