Eighteen players coming from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association will make up the national under-23 squad that the Philippine Football Federation recently assembled.
The 23-man roster is part of the Philippine Under-22 team that is currently seeing action in the ASEAN Football Federation U-22 Championship 2019 that is being held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from Feb. 17 to 26.
The Philippines is in Group A together with Vietnam, Thailand, and Timor Leste.
The squad will also have some players from overseas based teams.
Salvador Salvacion is the head coach, with Andres Gonzales, Randolfo Clarino, Christopher Pedimonte, and Ralph Datoy coming in as his assistants.
The team has had training sessions and played against local clubs as build-up for the tournament.
The national under-22 team will be also form part of the Philippines team for the AFC U23 Championship 2020 Qualifiers this March in Malaysia and hopefully the squad for the 30th Southeast Asian Games which will be held this November in Manila
“We wish the Philippines Men’s Under-22 team the best of luck as they compete in the AFF U22 Championship 2019 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia,” said PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes.
Goalie Alexander Jae Arcilla, who plays for Ateneo, will be the goalie, along Michael Asong, who is from San Beda, along with Kenny Balobo.
College of St. Benilde’s Lawrence Baguio is playing defender with Lyceum’s Winces Balbino, along with Kaya FC-Iloilo’s Major Dean Ebarle, aling with Jose Miguel Clarino of the University of the Philippines.
The Philippines is set to meet Vietnam in their first game at the Phnom Penh National Stadium.