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Friday, March 29, 2024

Azkals open SEA Games’ campaign vs Indonesians

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THE Philippine under-22 men’s team takes on Indonesia at the start of the football competition of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Saturday at the Morodok Techo Stadium in Phnom Penh.

The other match, set at 7 p.m., pits Cambodia against Timor Leste.

Group A where the Philippines belongs, is considered a favorable bracket for the Filipinos with Indonesia, last year’s third placer in Vietnam SEA Games, posing the biggest threat.

Also in the group are host Cambodia, Timor Leste, and Myanmar.

The Philippine football team trains at Morodok Techo Stadium.

Group B is composed of 2021 SEA Games champion Vietnam and runner-up Thailand, along with Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos.

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Coaching the team is former Azkals’ defender Rob Gier, who has a UEFA A coaching license. He is aiming to get past the group stage and reach the semifinals for the first time since the old dogs, led by Norman Figidero, did the miracle of 1991 in the Manila SEA Games.

The much-favored women’s national team, last year’s bronze medalist in Vietnam SEAG, starts it bid on May 3 against Myanmar.

The Filipinas are tipped to crowd the medal board with back-to-back champ Vietnam and Thailand.

Also starting the action for Team Philippines are the cricket squad and chessers, led by Asia’s first Chess Grandmaster Eugene Torre and Woman Grandmaster Janelle Frayna.

The 11-man team competes in ouk chaktrang, a Cambodian chess variant introduced by host Cambodia. In the previous Hanoi SEA Games last year, the national chess team garnered 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.

In cricket, the Philippines faces host Cambodia in the women’s division. The sport is played for only the second time in the SEA Games since it was introduced in the 2017 edition of the biennial competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Meanwhile, national teams of hockey, triathlon, and volleyball will leave along with a few PSC support staff today (April 29) and a big bulk from different sports also leave on May 2.

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