BY CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — The Philippine U14 National Girls Team settled for first runner-up honors in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U14 Girls’ Southeast Asia championship held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
The six-week formed PH Team held their own against their counterparts from other Southeast Asian nations. They were the underdogs in the field of six nations but defeated defending champion Vietnam, 1-0.
Thailand won the title, 2-1 after beating the Philippines.
Arantxa Mari Trebol of Cebu City scored the goal for the Philippines at the 51st minute.
Vietnam placed third while Myanmar was fourth.
The Philippines defeated Singapore 6-0, Cambodia 5-0 and Myanmar 2-1 to advance to the semifnals.
It took the Fair Play Award which recognized the team with the “greatest respect for the game.”
Midfielder Joyce Semacio of Davao City was adjudged Most Valuable Player.
The 18 girls of the Philippine national team were chosen based on nationwide tryouts. They were:
- Stacey Ann Arthur (Metro Manila)
- Jennifer Baroin (Makati City)
- Princess Beth Caparida (San Carlos City)
- Jan Reese Jumawan (Cebu City)
- Tenelyn Otom (San Carlos City)
- Lindsay Whaley (Subic Bay)
- Itsuko Bacatan (Cebu City)
- Patricia Erika Francisco (Davao City)
- Chloe Anne Hails (Metro Manila)
- Francesca Anne Marie Suerte (Iloilo City)
- Annika Velez (Manila)
- Glynnes Dela Cruz (Metro Manila)
- Joyce Semacio (Davao City)
- Arantxa Mari Trebol (Cebu)
- Yasmin May Elauria (Olongapo City)
- Alexandrea Gumilao (Cebu)
- Tejanee Marie Isulat (San Carlos City), and
- Mikayla Grace Simons (Hong Kong).
The coaching staff included assistant coach Joyce Landagan, goalkeeper coach Melissa Chris Marquez, and physiotherapist Katherine Anne Soriano./PN
