Several players set to play for the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 will arrive this weekend to join the national training camp starting on December 2 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Freddy Gonzalez, the Philippine Football Federation’s Director of National Senior Teams and concurrent manager of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team, said most players who were fixtures in the two previous windows, will be back. Those who are based in Southeast Asia, particularly those playing in Indonesia and Thailand, will fly back to Manila earlier than some of their teammates.
“So guys like John-Patrick Strauß, Scott Woods, Jeffrey Tabinas and Jesse Curran will be released by their respective teams after their Champions League games,” Gonzalez said.
He also revealed that Michael Kempter, Bjorn Kristensen, and Paul Tabinas will be in Manila by December 8. Dylan Demuncyk, who is still nursing an injury, will likely miss the team’s opening game in the Mitsubishi Cup, but is expected to suit up for the second game. Alex Monis is in the country for several days now, practicing with Kaya FC Iloilo. Gonzalez also revealed that Sebastian Rasmussen will miss the tournament because of a hamstring injury, while Joshua Grommen remains questionable due to some personal concerns. Gerrit Holtmann and Santi Rublico will be available after the group stage.
“No new players for now, because they were not able to meet the deadline set by the organizers,” Gonzalez said.
Despite this, Gonzalez also revealed that coach Albert Capellas has invited several players to meet him in Manila. These players include David Choiniere, Rocket Ritarita, Andrei Leopold, Adrian Ugelvik and Pocholo Bugas.
Choiniere has expressed his intention to play for the Philippines after much prodding from Kempter. His younger brother, Mathieu, is Kempter’s teammate. Mathieu, however, can no longer play for the country because has been capped already by Canada.
“He wants to see personally how they play,” Gonzalez added.
Gonzalez is optimistic that the elder Choiniere will be available for the country once the Asian Cup qualifiers begin in March next year, along with the Markanich Brothers, Josef Baccay, Cole Mrowka and other high-profile prospects.
“So by March, we will see a whole different team. We’re scheduling the Markanich brothers to come home soon and finish their paperworks,” Gonzales said.
Speaking of another issue that fans are hoping to be addressed soon, someone told The Designated Kit Man that he is hoping the men’s national football team will get a new moniker soon. He even made a suggestion that the team formerly known as the Azkals should be called Fighting Filipinos moving forward. He reasoned out that lately, the team has been fighting so many concerns and problems on and off the pitch and yet remains steadfast and determined to turn around for the better. Just like what the ordinary Filipinos have to battle through everyday because of disasters, whether natural or manmade and the national tragedy that is Philippine politics.
Fighting Filipinos, anyone?
One last thing, it saddened me that one of my favorite teams, if not the favorite, went down without a fight. From being the much-feared Red Lions, nagmukha silang mga kuting.
San Beda played their worst game in Season 100 of the NCAA last Saturday. They were completely dominated in all fronts, except maybe in the number of consultants and assistant coaches on the bench, by an inspired and more importantly, prepared College of St. Benilde Five. Coach Chris Tiu really did his homework against a hapless Mendiola squad, which hardly reminded anyone present at the Cuneta Astrodome why they were the defending, and eventually deposed, champions.
The Blazers got off to a roaring start and kept attacking all game long, even putting up a 30-point lead, 70-40, enroute to a 79-63 win to cut short the Red Lions’ reign and arrange a finals duel against the equally scorching Mapua Cardinals. The Finals start tomorrow at the Big Dome. Both the Blazers and the Cardinals are hoping to end decades of title drought in the NCAA. Benilde is gunning for its first championship in the last 24 years. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are hoping to end 33 years of futility. Mapua took the first finals’ berth after dispatching Lyceum Pirates, 89-79, in the other Final 4 match up. Incidentally, current coach Randy Alcantara was part of the last Mapua team to win an NCAA crown.
I’m just hoping that my beloved team will be able to bounce back next season. They should learn from the humbling experience they received from the Blazers and use it as the primary motivation in playing consistent basketball for all their games next year.
This is the bare minimum, considering the massive support the team has been receiving year in year out from the Bedan community. Compared to other varsity squads in San Beda — like the Red Smashers, Red Tankers, Red Booters, Red Paddlers and many more — the Red Lions are at a different level in all aspects. To put it simply, the Red Lions’ exit in the final four generated more attention than the other varsity teams, which won titles, some even sweeping the men’s, women’s and junior divisions of their respective tournaments in the NCAA.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
