When the Philippine national women’s football team ended its 2025 ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Myanmar, Filipinas’ coach Mark Torcaso saw several promising players, who can be included in future games.
One of them is Filipino-American booter Nina Mathelus, a prolific scorer for the U-17 team.
The 16-year-old Mathelus netted her first-ever senior international goal in the 71st minute, leading to the standoff in their encounter with Myanmar in Haiphong, Vietnam.
“We saw Nina Mathelus come on and did a really good job, although she still needs to learn and get some understanding of her position, but she scored a goal. We saw Tea Pidding in the last game as a 16-year-old and we just want to have as many players available for the Asian Cup,” the coach said.
Torcaso believes that Mathelus can be back with the squad, along with Pidding and Adelaide Wyrzynski.
Wyrzynski, a former member of Australia’s U-18 squad, also made a significant impact during the tournament with a goal and an assist.
Pidding, who is from Del Monte High School in San Diego, California, played well defensively.
Then, there’s left back Azumi Oka, who played all 270 minutes in the three group stage matches, just like team captain Hali Long.
Oka’s game-saving block against a solo run by Yoon Wadi Hlaing in stoppage time denied Myanmar the win.
Torcaso said the newbies blended well with the veterans of the Filipinas squad, as all showed grit and determination against the group’s top contender.
