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  • Sandro Reyes, Daisuke Sato keep PMNT’s hopes alive after Thailand setback

    Sandro Reyes, Daisuke Sato keep PMNT’s hopes alive after Thailand setback

    The Philippine Men’s National Football Team saw its path to the next round become more difficult after suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Thailand in the ASEAN Hyundai Cup on Tuesday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.


    But despite the painful home loss, the Filipinos are refusing to let the result define their campaign.

    Midfielder Sandro Reyes praised the team’s effort and believes the squad showed enough fight throughout the match, even as Thailand’s quality eventually made the difference.

     

    “Everyone gave their fight,” Reyes said.

     

    The match remained tightly contested until Thailand found the breakthrough in the 84th minute through Waris Choolthong, whose goal handed the Philippines a difficult defeat and pushed the national team closer to elimination in Group B.

     

    For Reyes, the result was not because of one player’s mistake, emphasizing that the entire squad battled until the final whistle.

     

    Left-back Daisuke Sato shared a similar view, pointing out the improvements made by the team after its impressive 4-1 victory over Laos in their previous match. 

     

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    Sato felt the Philippines created enough opportunities to challenge Thailand but failed to capitalize on key moments.

     

    “We improved so many things. We had our moments, we are so close to winning the game but unfortunately we can’t see those moments,” Sato said.

     

    While Sato considered the defeat an unfortunate result, Reyes gave credit to Thailand’s performance and refused to label the outcome as simply bad luck.

     

    “Not unlucky of course because Thailand is really really good,” Reyes said.

     

    With their backs against the wall, the Philippines now shifts its focus to a crucial showdown against Malaysia on Saturday, August 8, at Kuala Lumpur Stadium. The national team knows a victory is vital to keep its qualification hopes alive.

     

    Sato remains confident that the squad still has the mentality needed for the challenge ahead.

    “We still have a chance to qualify, we will never give up, we’ll show our spirit, our mentality. We’re gonna go there to win the game, we are not done yet,” Sato said.

     

    “We’re gonna give everything for us, for the people, and for the country to take three points from there and we will see,” Sato added.

     

    The defeat left the Philippines in fourth place in Group B, behind Thailand, which remained at the top with nine points. Myanmar and Malaysia currently occupy second and third spots, respectively, with six points each.

     

    Myanmar holds the advantage in the standings due to a stronger goal difference, carrying a plus-7 mark compared to Malaysia’s plus-3.

     

    Myanmar boosted its semifinal chances earlier in the day after dominating Laos with a 7-2 victory, securing its second win of the tournament.

     

    With qualification hanging in the balance, the Philippines now faces a must-fight situation in Malaysia, where the national team will look to prove that its campaign is far from over.

     

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  • This Week’s Sports Fixtures: PBA, PVL On Tour, Alas Pilipinas, and Alex Eala National Bank Open (August 3 – August 9)

    This Week’s Sports Fixtures: PBA, PVL On Tour, Alas Pilipinas, and Alex Eala National Bank Open (August 3 – August 9)

    Filipino sports fans have another packed week to look forward to as local leagues, national teams, and international stars take center stage. From the PVL On Tour and the PBA to the Philippine men’s football team, Alas Pilipinas squads, and Alex Eala’s campaign in Canada, here’s a look at the key fixtures to watch over the coming days.


    PVL On Tour

     

    Saturday, August 8 – Santiago City

    • 4:00 p.m. – ZUS Thunderbelles vs. PLDT High Speed Hitters
    • 6:30 p.m. – Capital1 Solar Spikers vs. Creamline Cool Smashers

    Alas Pilipinas Women

     

    6th SEA V.League – Leg 2 (Thailand)

    • Friday, August 7 | 5:30 p.m. – Philippines vs. Thailand
    • Saturday, August 8 | 2:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Vietnam
    • Sunday, August 9 | 2:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Indonesia

    Alas Pilipinas Girls 

     

    FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship – San Felipe, Chile  

    • Thursday, August 6 | 8:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. China
    • Friday, August 7 | 5:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Mexico
    • Saturday, August 8 | 5:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Tunisia
    • Monday, August 10 | 5:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Peru
    • Tuesday, August 11 | 2:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Venezuela

    Tennis

     

    National Bank Open – Women’s Singles

     

    Round of 64 – Wednesday (TBD) 

    • Alex Eala vs. Alycia Parks

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    PBA Season 50 Governor’s Cup

     

    Tuesday, August 4 – Ninoy Aquino Stadium

    • 5:15 p.m. – Titan Ultra Giant Risers vs. Macau Giant Pandas
    • 7:30 p.m. – NLEX Road Warriors vs. TNT Tropang 5G

    Wednesday, August 5 – Smart Araneta Coliseum

    • 5:15 p.m. – Blackwater Bossing vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters
    • 7:30 p.m. – San Miguel Beermen vs. Converge FiberXers

    Friday, August 7 – Ninoy Aquino Stadium

    • 5:15 p.m. – Terrafirma Dyip vs. NLEX Road Warriors
    • 7:30 p.m. – Magnolia Hotshots vs. Meralco Bolts

    Saturday, August 8 – Ynares Center, Montalban

    • 5:15 p.m. – TNT Tropang 5G vs. Titan Ultra Giant Risers
    • 7:30 p.m. – Macau Giant Pandas vs. San Miguel Beermen

    Sunday, August 9 – Ninoy Aquino Stadium

    • 5:15 p.m. – Phoenix Fuel Masters vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
    • 7:30 p.m. – Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs. Blackwater Bossing

    Philippine Men’s National Football Team

    • Tuesday, August 4 | 9:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Thailand (New Clark City Stadium)
    • Saturday, August 8 | 9:00 p.m. – Philippines vs. Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur Stadium)

    As the week unfolds, Filipino athletes and teams will be looking to build momentum on both the local and international stage. Whether it’s crucial PBA clashes, PVL action, international volleyball tournaments, football fixtures, or Alex Eala’s latest challenge on the WTA Tour, fans have no shortage of events to follow in another busy week for Philippine sports.

     

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  • PFF president John Gutierrez lauds Philippines’ depth after comeback victory over Laos 

    PFF president John Gutierrez lauds Philippines’ depth after comeback victory over Laos 

    The Philippine Men’s National Football Team’s emphatic 4-1 comeback victory over Laos offered more than just three points in the Hyundai Cup—it highlighted the growing depth of the national program at a time when the squad was forced to compete without several of its regulars.

     

    Faced with the challenge of missing key players due to club commitments, the Filipinos responded by overturning a 1-0 halftime deficit with four unanswered goals in the second half. The spirited performance earned the Philippines its first victory of the tournament, lifted the team to three points in Group B, and equaled the country’s biggest winning margin over Laos in the ASEAN Championship.


    For Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president John Gutierrez, the result underscored the willingness of every player who stepped in when the national team needed them most.

     

    “We are incredibly proud of every player who answered the call to represent our country. We believe in this team, and we support them one hundred percent — win or lose,” said Gutierrez.

     

    The Philippines’ turnaround was fueled by goals from John Lucero, Jarvey Gayoso, and Daisuke Sato, while Laos also conceded an own goal as the visitors dominated the second half after trailing at the break.

     

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    Beyond the scoreline, Gutierrez viewed the performance as another milestone in the team’s long-term development rather than a single defining result.

     

    “Every football nation experiences victories and defeats. What matters is how a team responds, how it continues to improve, and how it grows over time. This victory is an important response, but it is also another step in our journey of building a stronger Philippine national team for the future,” Gutierrez said.

     

    The federation chief also acknowledged the role of Filipino supporters throughout the campaign, recognizing both the praise and criticism directed at the team.

     

    “We are deeply grateful to every Filipino who continues to support our national team. To those who celebrated with us, thank you. To those who criticize us, we know those emotions come from your passion and your desire to see Philippine football succeed,’’ he said.

     

    Gutierrez pointed out that assembling the strongest possible squad proved particularly difficult because the Hyundai Cup falls outside the FIFA International Match Calendar, limiting the federation’s ability to secure the release of overseas-based players.

     

    “The Hyundai Cup is not played during a FIFA international window. Despite the Philippine Football Federation’s best efforts to appeal to international clubs to release our players, not everyone was available for national team duty because of their club commitments,’’ the PFF president said.

     

    With momentum now on their side, the Filipinos return home carrying renewed confidence into a crucial Group B clash against Thailand on August 4 at New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

     

    After collecting three valuable points through a determined 4-1 comeback over Laos, the Philippines now faces one of its biggest tests in the tournament with hopes of strengthening its position in the group standings.

     

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  • Filipinas, PMNT set for challenging group-stage campaign at Asian Games

    Filipinas, PMNT set for challenging group-stage campaign at Asian Games

    The road to the 20th Asian Games will offer no easy passage for Philippine football, but it also presents an opportunity for both the Filipinas and the country’s men’s under-23 squad to gauge how far they have progressed against Asia’s established powers.


    Following Thursday’s official draw, the Philippines found itself in demanding groups in both the women’s and men’s football tournaments, setting the stage for a series of tests when the Games kick off in Japan from September 14 to October 3.

     

    For the Filipinas, the challenge begins in Group G, where they will square off against regional heavyweight China, the reigning Asian Games bronze medalist, nine-time AFC Women’s Asian Cup champion, and the tournament’s highest-ranked team in the group at No. 16 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings.

     

    The Philippines, currently ranked No. 39, will also face No. 51 Uzbekistan and No. 81 Hong Kong as they seek to advance beyond the opening phase.

     

    China enters the tournament with recent Asian Games success after defeating Uzbekistan in the bronze-medal match of the previous edition. 

     

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    Uzbekistan, meanwhile, reached the semifinals of the last Asiad, making Group G one of the more competitive sections of the women’s competition.

     

    Defending champion Japan headlines Group E alongside Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, and Thailand, while Group F features South Korea, North Korea, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

     

    For the Philippine men’s under-23 side, simply returning to the Asian Games already marks a significant milestone after earning a late berth in the tournament. The reward, however, is a difficult assignment.

     

    The Filipinos, ranked No. 135, enter Group C as the lowest-ranked nation in the pool and will face No. 50 Uzbekistan, No. 99 Vietnam, and No. 133 Kuwait.

     

    The tournament also features a stacked Group A led by host nation Japan, together with North Korea, Palestine, and Yemen. Group B includes South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia, while Group D is composed of China, Iran, Indonesia, and Tajikistan.

     

    Beyond the Asian Games, the Philippine men’s senior national team is also preparing for a busy stretch on the regional calendar.

     

    The squad will aim to capture its first-ever ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 title in the coming weeks before taking part in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, scheduled from September 21 to October 6.

    As both national teams continue their preparations, the Asian Games will provide another benchmark for Philippine football.

     

    The Filipinas head into the tournament looking to sustain the momentum generated by another FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification and continue proving they can compete with Asia’s elite.

     

     Meanwhile, the men’s under-23 squad returns to the continental stage with the chance to test itself against higher-ranked opposition and measure its development in one of the region’s premier multi-sport events.

     

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  • PH Men’s Football Team secures Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games slot after India withdraws 

    PH Men’s Football Team secures Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games slot after India withdraws 

    The Philippines will have complete representation in football at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya after the men’s national team earned a late qualification berth, joining the women’s squad that had already secured its place for the Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 continental meet.


    The additional slot further strengthens what is shaping up to be one of the country’s largest contingents to the quadrennial event.

     

    With the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) confirming that 443 athletes have already qualified to compete across 38 of the 47 sports on the program.

     

    POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced the latest development on Monday, June 29, saying the country remains on track to send its biggest delegation in the last eight editions of the Asian Games.

     

    “The minimum goal is to do better at these games,” said Tolentino, referring to breaking medals in Hangzhou.

     

    The Philippines previously fielded a record 524 athletes during the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, while 391 athletes represented the country in Hangzhou in 2023. 

     

    Including coaches, trainers, medical staff, and officials, the entire Philippine delegation could swell to around 700 members should gymnastics confirm the qualification of five more artistic gymnasts.

     

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    The men’s football team received its opportunity after India withdrew from the tournament, allowing the Philippines, which was next in line, to take the vacant spot.

     

    “We’re next in line so we got the slot,” Tolentino said.

     

    With the qualification, the Philippines will now be represented in both the men’s and women’s football tournaments, marking a complete football campaign in Aichi-Nagoya. 

     

    The men’s competition will feature 16 nations and will follow the traditional under-23 format, with each squad allowed to include up to three overaged players. 

     

    The women’s tournament, meanwhile, will be contested by 12 national teams.

     

    The late entry also gives the Philippine men’s team valuable exposure against some of Asia’s strongest football programs, while complementing the women’s squad, which had already secured its berth earlier in the qualification process. 

     

    Having both teams compete on the continental stage underscores the steady growth of Philippine football and adds another highlight to what could become one of the country’s most extensive Asian Games campaigns.

     

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