Thailand outlasts the Philippines to advance into AMEC final

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippines were inches away from dethroning Thailand in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024, and just minutes away from forcing penalties. But a dramatic Suphanat Mueanta goal deep in extra time put an end to the Filipinos’ Cinderella run in the competition.

“First, I’d like to congratulate Thailand on making the final. Second, I’m very proud of my players. We will come back stronger, I can promise you that. We came here to Thailand and we played against them face-to-face until the last minute,” said Head Coach Albert Capellas after the grueling 120-minute affair at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

Entering the match with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, the Philippines started the contest full of confidence, able to dictate the game in front of the vibrant 31,000 in attendance. Jarvey Gayoso came close to a deserved opener, but his effort was denied by a goal-line clearance.

The seven-time champions eventually wrestled control as the half wore on, and found a breakthrough through captain Peeradol Chamratsamee in the 38th minute, who fired in the opener from a tight angle. That lead was doubled eight minutes after the break, with Patrik Gustavsson tucking away a well placed through ball.

Behind 3-2 on aggregate at that stage, the Philippines needed to find a goal to stay in the tie. They found that lifeline through Bjorn Kristensen, who fired in a beautiful low curling strike from outside of the box to restore parity in the tie. The Filipinos even went on to almost snatch another goal that would’ve sent the team through to the final.

From a dangerous cross in to the box, Amani Aguinaldo’s header forced a good stop from the keeper. The resulting rebound was fired unto the underside of the crossbar, with a third attempt struck goal wards, but deflected out for a corner kick. That unconverted scramble meant the match went into extra-time where Muenta’s heroics at the death ensured the Thais returned to the final.

“I think we played good in the first 20 minutes, and in the last 20 minutes. In the first half of extra time it was an equal game, but in the last 10 minutes we suffered. We couldn’t put pressure on the ball anymore and we allowed too many crosses. Next time we will learn from that lesson and we will come back stronger,” said Capellas, who finished the tournament with a record of two wins, three draws, and one loss. “We just arrived at this level. For a lot of years we couldn’t play these type of games — to fight until the last second against Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam. It’s the first time we are here after a lot of years. We have to learn from this experience. Thailand has been there a lot of years. For this generation of players, this is the first time. All I can promise is that we’ll learn from this and we’ll become stronger.”

Reflecting on a grueling campaign where the team played six games in 18 days, the Spanish tactician couldn’t help but feel a change is needed for future editions of the tournament.

“The competition I think has to be organized in a different way. Our players were completely destroyed physically. We have to take care of the players. They need more rest time in between games. This is not respect for the game, this is not respect to the players,” he said.

He also took time to thank all the support the team garnered over the last few weeks, including the over 10,000 that witnessed the Philippines beat Thailand at the Rizal Memorial Stadium just a few days ago.

“I hope all the Filipinos are proud and that they enjoyed [the efforts of] our squad. They fought a lot. And I hope we get the support from the federation, the government, and from people who love football, to help us grow football in the Philippines, so we’ll have more games like this,” he said. “Thank you very much to all the Filipinos, not only in the Philippines, but around the world. Now we have to move to the next level. We have to have a more powerful league. We have to develop the youth football. We need to invest, and we will come back stronger. We will work very hard to make it happen.”

“Now we know we can do it. We have a very bright future for the National Team of the Philippines for the next few years,” he concluded. The Philippine Men’s National Team will next see action in March, when the campaign to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup begins.

Philippines at cusp of historic moment in AMEC

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippines is one match away from making a first ever appearance in the final of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup. Having made history by beating Thailand in Manila in the first leg, the Filipinos take a slim 2-1 advantage heading into Monday’s 9:00PM (PST) match at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. The winner on aggregate after both legs will go through to face either Vietnam or Singapore in the final.

“I think it’ll be a very equal 200 minutes. I know that it’s about two games. We have to perform good again tomorrow if we want to go to the final. We know that we can make it difficult for Thailand. We have watched the [previous] game, we have made some adjustments to try to come here and make a good performance for our fans, our federation, and for our players, to show that we are making steps forward. We will try to reach the final for sure,” said head coach Albert Capellas.

Michael Kempter, who stepped out with the captain’s armband in the first leg, is under no illusions about the gravity of the task ahead and is expecting that the team will need to dig deep once again to overcome the seven-time champions.

“We know that Thailand is a very good team. We are very prepared for the game. We’re going to fight until the end like in Manila,” said Kempter. “We’re here to reach the finals. We believe in ourselves. We’re not done yet, the job’s not done. We’re here to make history for our country.”

Thailand are no strangers to overturning first-leg deficits, having successfully overcome a few en route to Southeast Asian supremacy. With their home fans behind them, Thai player Chalermsak Akkee suggested that the Filipinos’ tears of joy in Manila would turn into tears of agony on Monday night.

“There is no sport in the world that moves people more than football — maybe music, but not in sport. That’s why the fans now are starting to feel the hope. Tomorrow we will perform, and I’m sure our fans will not cry. They will feel very proud no matter if we win, if we draw, or we lose. I’m sure they will feel very proud,” said Albert Capellas in response.

A draw or a win for the Philippines will guarantee passage into the final, which will be played over two legs as well. Tonight's match will be aired LIVE on Matchday.ph.

Philippines claims home leg of AMEC semifinal

c/o Philippine Football Federation

In front of a boisterous Rizal Memorial Stadium crowd, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team made history on Friday night, defeating Thailand, 2-1, to seal the team’s first ever semifinal win in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, and a first victory in 52 years over the regional powerhouse. The win was sealed in dramatic fashion, with a last minute goal that ensured the Filipinos take the advantage heading into the second leg in Bangkok.

“I’m very happy for all the supporters, all the fans. I’m very happy for the players because they never give up. We played a very good 35-40 minutes against a very good team,” said Albert Capellas after the match. “In the second half we suffered more, conceded attempts that we shouldn’t have. But we handled it together. We never lost the hope because this team — they’re fighters, they believe — they fight so much for this country. I’m so proud for them. In the end I think we got what we deserved. I’m very happy.”

The Philippines got off to strong start, putting Thailand on the back-foot by keeping possession well and moving the ball quickly. 20 minutes into the contest, Sandro Reyes fired in a left-footed wonder strike to give the Philippines a deserved lead. The visitors responded right before the break though, with Suphanan Bureerat finishing off a counter attack to give Thailand a lifeline.

With a foot back into the game, the Thais emerged from the second half inspired, mounting numerous attacks that led to clear-cut opportunities. But after enduring a difficult half of pressure, the Filipinos dramatically turned the match around in the final minute. From a Zico Bailey free kick, Paul Tabinas cushioned the ball to Kike Linares for the game-winning goal.

“We knew how to suffer, we suffered the entire group stage,” said Man of the Match Sandro Reyes. “I think the group stage was a perfect practice for today because we suffered a lot, but we found a way to go through all those hurdles. We went through hell and we came out. Today was the same. The end of the first half, until the end of the game I think Thailand had plenty of chances. They were putting pressure on us. We couldn’t keep the ball. We were very tired. But we got out of hell and scored the last minute goal. The fans were amazing. They were with us until the end.”

“Since I started playing football at age four, Thailand has always been the team to beat. They’ve always been the strongest in Southeast Asia, so to beat them shows how far we’ve come,” he continued. “But the job isn’t even halfway done. We’ve got a very difficult job in the second leg coming up and we want to play a final here, so we’ll give everything to get that final here.”

Ecstatic about the historic win, Coach Albert Capellas believes there’s still plenty more to come from the Philippine Men’s National Football Team.

"I’m very happy for everyone who’s making a lot of effort inside of the federation — Freddy [Gonzalez], Mikkel [Paris], and all of the staff. You cannot imagine how much they work for this team. They need all the support from everybody because this is just the beginning, and we want to get better and better.”

The Philippines will look to seal the country’s first ever appearance in the competition’s final, when they will play Thailand in Bangkok on Monday, December 30, at 9:00PM.

Philippines ready for home leg of AMEC Semifinal

c/o Philippine Football Federation

Back in the semi-finals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup for the first time in six years, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team is eager to get off to a strong start in their two-legged tie versus regional powerhouse Thailand. The first match will be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Friday night, December 27, 9PM, with the second leg to be played in Bangkok on the 30th.

Up against seven-time champions of ASEAN’s biggest stage, and a team ranked 53 places higher in the FIFA rankings, Philippine Head Coach Albert Capellas sees no reason to change the approach that got his team to the knockout rounds.

“It’s nice to be here again, it means we’ve qualified for the semi-finals. It’s very nice to see all of you again, and to have the chance to play two more good games,” said Capellas. “We have this rule that the most important game is the next game, and we won’t change that. We always prepare the games believing we can win. We know that Thailand is a very strong opponent, but we’ll attack with the s

ame mentality. This is the way that we’ve prepared for this game — exactly the same as all the other games.”

Bjorn Kristensen’s goal in front of 17,000 Indonesians was what sealed passage for the Filipinos into the semi-finals. The young striker is no stranger to Thailand, having opened his goal scoring account for the Philippines against Friday’s opponent a couple months ago.

“It will be a good game against a strong opponent. It’s what we live for, to play against good teams. Hopefully we can get the win in the first leg, and the hopefully the second leg also,” said Kristensen, scorer of two goals so far in this tournament.

The Filipinos will be without the services of Amani Aguinaldo due to suspension, as well as Patrick Reichelt, who recently announced his retirement from international football. The team will welcome back Santi Rublico, though, who bolsters the team’s options in attack.

“In this tournament we’re experts in finding the balance. It’s one of the keys of why we’re here today. We had to find the balance of the minutes we deliver to every player. Every player who got the chance delivered their best,” said Capellas, before adding, “Alone we cannot achieve anything, together we can achieve a lot of things. One of the strong parts of this group, is the belief that they have — they do everything together — and the effort that they make in every game. That means with or without Amani [and Patrick], that will not change.”

“With Santi, he could only join us if we made it to the semi-final stage and I’m very happy that the club allowed him to join us. He knows all the players, knows the system, and knows me very well. He has the same chances as everyone else to get minutes.”

Tickets to the Filipinos’ clash with Thailand are available on Ticketmax.ph. The game will be aired LIVE matchday.ph and on PTV Sports.

Philippines secures AMEC semifinal spot

c/o Philippine Football Federation

Winless yet undefeated coming in to the Manahan Stadium, the Philippine men’s national football team (PMNFT) proved to Southeast Asia its winning mettle, scoring an all-important 1-0 victory over Indonesia and booking a semis ticket to close the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup Group B competitions on Saturday in Surakarta.

The win marks the return of the Philippines to the ASEAN home-and-away semis, which it last achieved in 2018. The team will next face defending champion Thailand on December 27 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium (RMS).

This also marks the Philippines’ first win against Indonesia since 2014 and the first ever on Indonesian soil.

“I can’t begin to describe how I feel right now. It’s like, it’s just nice to be back. Nice to be back where we belong in the semifinals and the job’s not done yet,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Director for National Teams Freddy Gonzalez.

“We played four games in nine days, so everyone was gassed, but these guys really dug deep and, you know, pulled off an amazing victory today that brought us back to the semifinals,” Gonzalez, a national team striker in the ’90s, added.

The Philippines’ patience in building up for the goal and weathering Indonesia’s intense attacks on their side paid off when Paul Tabinas earned a penalty, forcing a handball on Dony Tri Pamungkas to earn Bjorn Kristensen the winning goal in the 63rd minute.

The glorious goal came after a flurry of shots on goal by Indonesia starting in the latter part of the first half, backstopped by speedster Marcelino Ferdinan, who had three shots on goal saved by replacement keeper Quincy Kammeraad and one that hit the woodwork.

The Indonesian momentum came to a halt when skipper Muhammad Ferrari was booked for a red card for elbowing fellow skipper Amani Aguinaldo in the 43rd minute, limiting Indonesia to ten men throughout the match.

Kristensen had the final say of the first half with a header in front of goal that was saved by Cahya Supriadi.

Early in the second half, Hokky Brilliant and Achmad Syarif stepped up on offense but their shots were saved by Kammeraad.

After Kristensen’s goal, it was the Philippines’ turn to step on the gas, with substitute Uriel Dalapo released for a running strike that was saved by Supriadi in the 75th minute, while a similar counter by Jarvey Gayoso in the 85th minute was blocked by Muhammad Hannan.

The Philippines held the fort on defense despite 14 minutes of added time as Kammeraad had the last laugh, saving the outside shot on target by late sub Ronaldo Joybera, Jr.

“This is very emotional for us. There are no words,” said Aguinaldo who, alongside starting keeper Patrick Deyto, was part of the 2018 squad. “I am very happy to be part of this team, of this squad that has faced much difficulty from the past.”

“I think the coach told us today the last few games luck hasn’t been on our side and I think us as a team we created our luck today and this is something the country has been needing for a long time and this is just for the team and for the country and everybody,” said Man of the Match Kammeraad, who replaced an injured Patrick Deyto in the 4th minute.

The Philippines has not won against Thailand in head-to-head history and has only drawn twice.

In last October’s King’s Cup, PMNFT figured in a rain-soaked 1-3 loss against the world number 97, with Kristensen scoring his first international goal.

“I hope… we will have our fans behind at home. We will need them. We need full stadium and we will try to do our best to beat Thailand,” encouraged PMNFT head coach Albert Capellas, who is on his debut ASEAN Championship.

Philippine to give its all in final AMEC group stage matchup

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team’s hopes of progress into the semi-finals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 hangs in the balance on Saturday night, when they face Indonesia, 9PM PST, at the Manahan Stadium. After three straight draws, nothing less than victory in Surakarta will be enough to give the Filipinos passage into the next round.

“We have played four games in a row with only two days in between [each match]. I think this is a disadvantage, but of course we will not use this as an excuse. Tomorrow we will perform. I know my players, I know they will deliver 100%,” said Head Coach Albert Capellas. “We will come here tomorrow to try to win the game. We need to win the game if we want to have a chance to qualify. I think we’re facing a very good team who are playing at home, in front of a big and passionate audience. It’s a team that we have to play very well against if we want to have a chance to beat them.”

Echoing Capellas’ thoughts, Sandro Reyes, who has been key figure in the Philippines’ midfield, believes that despite the grueling schedule, his teammates will be ready to perform at the level required.

“It’s difficult to understand how a tournament can be played with four games in 12 days, but like coach said we’re not using this as an excuse All of the players are fit, ready, no injuries. Everyone is excited and energized to give more than 100% tomorrow,” said Reyes.

In order to qualify for the semi-finals, the Philippines not only need to win on Saturday night, but Group B leaders Vietnam must not lose in their match versus Myanmar, which will be held simultaneously.

The Filipinos clash with Indonesia will be aired LIVE on One Sports, One Sports+, and on Matchday.ph. It will also be available on a delayed basis on the Philippine Men’s National Football Team Facebook Page, and on Pilipinas Live.

Philippines keeps AMEC semifinal hopes alive with draw against Vietnam

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine men's national football team's (PMNFT) third Group B fixture in 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup (AMEC) has resulted in another draw, 1-1, versus outright semifinalist Vietnam on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

This was the first point the Philippines has scored from Vietnam since the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, where the Philippines won, 1-0, courtesy of a Chieffy Caligdong late goal.

PMNFT has since lost six games against the ASEAN powerhouse until Wednesday's draw.

Homegrown star Jarvey Gayoso came from his wedding last weekend to electrify the Filipino crowd with his patented left-footed bomb in the 68th minute for the lead.

Scoring on his third international goal, the shot was built up by an Amani Aguinaldo long ball, targeting Javier Mariona, who headed the ball to Gayoso.

That could have been a 2-0 score for the Philippines as in the first half stoppage time, Bjorn Kristensen scored after being released by fellow Fil-Norwegian Adrian Ugelvik on the break but the starting forward was called for an offensive foul on his body-to-body with Viet Anh Bui Hoang, disallowing the goal.

"Today was a different game. Today was a 50-50 game. It was more of a battle," remarked national team coach Albert Capellas.

"We have to keep longer ball possession because when we put five passes between lines, we shouldn't have lost, if we could do that on the last five-seven minutes, we shouldn't have lost. But we are tired, the team was so tired, but they gave whatever they can," Capellas explained, alluding to his team's third game in seven days, which included travel to and from Vientiane.

Ngoc Tan Doan ultimately scored the upset goal in the 90+7 mark, finding an opening by crouching low to head in the right corner inswing.

When asked about conceding three goals from set pieces, Capellas responded: "I never will blame a player for a mistake. Never. All of them they have my hundred percent support. A player who does not play is a player who does not commit a mistake. Football is a game of mistakes."

"It's nothing about set pieces. It's about respecting the players who play," Capellas asserted.

For his part, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez expressed his full support for the team.

"As I've said on Tuesday, this will be a 50-50 game. This has not been the case against Vietnam since our peak years in terms of world ranking. Now that we are coming in at world number 149, it is astounding for us not only to draw against Vietnam, but to battle them possession by possession," Gutierrez said, pertaining to the possession share per official match report.

"We have to give credit to the coaching staff for that excellent second half adjustment that resulted in our goal. I also want to express my support for our homegrown keeper Patrick Deyto for those crucial saves that could have resulted in our elimination had he not played excellently," Gutierrez continued.

Hope is not lost for PMNFT (3 points) as it will head to Solo, in a must-win game against idle group runner-up and home team Indonesia (4 points).

The Philippines should also hope for at least a draw between Vietnam (7 points) and Myanmar (4 points) to advance.

Philippines ready for Vietnam test in AMEC action

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team is gearing up to take on their biggest test in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 campaign, when they take on Vietnam on Wednesday night, 9:00PM, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The two-time champions and pre-tournament favorites currently hold top spot in Group B, and enter the contest fresh from victory over Indonesia.

“We are really looking forward to play against Vietnam - a good team. They are leading the group and from my point of view is the strongest team in the group and the team to beat. Tomorrow we have a fantastic opportunity to prove to ourselves that we’re able to beat these kinds of teams,” said Head Coach Albert Capellas

The Philippines drew their first two matches against Myanmar and Laos, and are now looking to utilize the energy of the home support to carry them against the Southeast Asian giants.

“We got two points in our first two matches, but we’re still very much alive in this tournament. We respect Vietnam, they’re a good team and viewed as favorites in this tournament, but we’re going to give a good fight and go for the three points,” said Alex Monis.

Tickets to the match are available at Ticketmax.ph. The game will also be aired LIVE on One Sports, One Sports+, and on Matchday.ph. It will also be available on a delayed basis on the Philippine Men’s National Football Team Facebook Page, and on Pilipinas Live.

Philippines with consecutive draws in AMEC play

c/o Philippine Football Federation

Sandro Reyes scored a late goal to ensure the Philippine Men’s National Football Team shared the spoils on Sunday night at the Laos National Stadium. Despite dominating the majority of the contest, the Filipinos settled for their second straight draw in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024.

“We didn’t attack well. We were very predictable with so many players behind the ball,” said Head Coach Albert Capellas after the match. “We weren’t brave enough to move the ball quicker and to play in between the lines, and for that I’m disappointed because, I know my team can play better.”

From the first whistle the Philippines showcased their ability to keep the ball and dictate possession, starving the hosts of any opportunities to threaten. Kike Linares and Michael Kempter came close from set pieces in the opening 20 minutes, but it was Laos to score first from a corner kick. 10 minutes from the break, against the run of play, Michael Baldisimo suffered the misfortune of turning the ball into his own net.

The Philippines emerged from half-time eager to restore parity. Laos remained stubborn, though, minimizing the visitors’ opportunities inside their box. With 15 minutes to go, their resistance was finally broken. Paul Tabinas found Sandro Reyes from a quick transition, and the young midfielder slotted the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

The Philippines came close to scoring a late winner. Alex Monis thought he’d found the go ahead just a few minutes after, but his clever finish was waved away for offside. Javier Mariona came close to being the hero as well right at the finish, but his low curling effort was tipped away by the goalkeeper.

“Today was a step backwards, but we need to move forward,” said Capellas.

The Philippines are back in action on December 18, 9PM, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, where they take on powerhouse Vietnam in their third match of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024.

Philippines seeking ASEAN ME Cup road victory at Vientiane

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team are eager to get maximum points when they face-off against Laos on Sunday evening, 6:30PM PST, at the New Laos National Stadium. Having drawn their opener in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024, the Filipinos require victory in opposition territory in order to boost their chances of progressing into the semifinals of Southeast Asia’s biggest tournament.

“We had only two days of preparation, and one was for traveling, so we only have today to really prepare for the game. It’s a very short time, but of course we are professionals, so the players will deliver their best,” said Philippine Head Coach Albert Capellas.

“They are dangerous in front. Boundphachan [Bounkong] is a good player - dangerous. I expect they will try to find him as much as they can. That is part of what we have to try to do. — he cannot receive too many balls in good positions on the field. I also expect a team that will be aggressive. Even if they’ve had a long trip as well from Indonesia, we are more or less in the same position physically,” he continued “If we want to win this game, we’ll need to be good in offense, but also very organized in our rest defense so they cannot play quick counterattacks, which they do very well."

Laos enter the match full of confidence after managing an impressive 3-3 draw away from home against highly favored Indonesia in their last outing. Zico Bailey, who impressed in his first appearance in front of the Filipino fans, is expecting a tough challenge.

“We have a lot of respect for them, they have a lot of good players. They had a good result in their last match, so we’re not taking them likely. We’re just going to go over how we’re going to play, our tactics, the formation of the players, and we’ll give our best tomorrow,” he said.

The match will be available LIVE on Matchday.ph and on One Sports+. It will also be available on a delayed basis on One Sports, Pilipinas Live, and on the Philippine Men’s National Football Team’s Facebook page.

Philippines draws Myanmar in AMEC 2024 opener

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine men's national football team saved a point in the opening game of the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup Group B, tying Myanmar, 1-1, on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Center forward Bjorn Kristensen sank his penalty kick in the 71st minute that he earned after getting deckes by Burmese goalkeeper Zin Nyi Nyi Aung.

The goal delighted the Filipino home crowd as it negated the early goal of Mg Mg Lwin, when he scored a free kick from 20 yards top of goal in the 20th minute.

It was a tense game from start to finish as the video assisted referee, being used in the ASEAN Men's Championship for the first time, disallowed a goal by Myanmar substitute Ye Yint Aung in the 63rd minute, as the passer, Lwin, was in an offside position.

"Myanmar has always been and is always a tough team in ASEAN," said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez.

"The last time we met them in 2021, it took a hat-trick by Bienvenido Maranon to beat them, 3-2," he continued.

"Nonetheless, we've played with better possessions even though we could not field some of our top men and your PFF is proud to have showcased this refreshing way of playing football in front of our kababayan. We are on course in improving our 2022 standing and hopefully, to be able to return to the semifinal," Gutierrez said.

The Philippines had chances to earn the three points late in the game, but dangerous strikes by newcomer Javier Mariona in the 81st minute and Paul Tabinas in the 86th minute were slightly off target.

Myanmar also had a chance to score a goal on-side but veteran goalkeeper Patrick Deyto made a clutch one-handed save on an on-target volley shot by Lwin in the 88th minute.

Central midfielder Zico Bailey unleashed a rocket from far range but his on-target shot was saved by Aung in the 90+5th minute while Michael Baldisimo skied the Philippines' final strike to close the game.

The Philippines will vie for a win as they visit Laos in Vientiane on Sunday, December 15.

"Sunday will be our best chance to get in the winning column and we call our kababayans in Laos to support our men's national team on Sunday," closed Gutierrez.

Philippines ready to kick off its ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup campaign

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team are all set to begin their campaign in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024, where they face Myanmar at 6:30PM on Thursday night. Four time semi-finalists on Southeast Asia’s biggest stage, the Philippines are eager to give the home fans plenty to cheer about at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

PMNFT Head Coach Albert Capellas and goalkeeper Patrick Deyto expressed their excitement ahead of what’s expected to be a fiery affair in Manila.

“It's the first game of the tournament so it's always important. We want to set the tone in a positive way,” said Deyto. “It's a good opportunity for us to showcase how we have developed in the last few camps.”

“It’s always special to play for the country, with the national team, I'm always prepared and always ready to give 100% for whatever role I have,” said the 34-year-old shot-stopper, who made his debut in the competition in 2014.

When asked about his approach against the visiting Myanmar side, Capellas revealed: “We will try to keep the ball, we will try to dominate the game, try to win from minute one.”

Myanmar is coming off a 1-0 defeat at home to Indonesia, but Capellas is still wary of their threat, as he added: “I expect a team who, they try to do quick counter-attacks, that they try to bring the ball in front as quick as possible.”

The coach remained positive about the team’s progress even with only three games thus far, describing the recent friendly defeat to Hong Kong as just “one step backwards”, but ultimately a part of the process.

Deyto and Capellas both noted the importance of the 12th man backing the team at home. “We hope that a lot of people would come to support us. Of course, the 12th man always gives us extra energy, extra boost to create a good atmosphere in the stadium,” remarked Deyto.

Tickets to the Philippines’ ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 Group B opener are available on Ticketmax.ph. The match will also be available LIVE on Matchday.ph, and on a delayed basis on One Sports, One Sports+, Pilipinas Live, and on Philippine Men’s National Football Team’s Facebook page.

ASEAN ME Cup trophy set for final stop in Manila

c/o ASEAN United FC

The Philippines will serve as the final stop of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 Trophy Tour, with the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati serving as the host of the activities on Saturday, November 9.

Set to make an appearance in the afternoon are former Philippines internationals Misagh Bahadoran and Aly Borromeo, with current gaffer Albert Capellas also present. Singer-actress Ornella Brianna will also perform, as well as the actual trophy itself, which has made made the rounds at Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta.

Entry for the event is free for the public, with the chance to win exclusive meet and greet sessions through the Asean United FC website and social media platforms. Booths will be present to provide entertainment and a chance to win exclusive ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup merchandise.

Earlier in the day, a football clinic will take place at the Tuloy Sa Don Bosco Foundation, which will involve both Bahadoran and Borromeo. Organized by title sponsor Mitsubishi Electric, the clinic is to utilized the "Okada" method, as devised former Japan national team coach Takeshi Okada.

Considered as THE regional football competition, the fifteenth edition of the ME Cup will take place next month, as Thailand seeks to claim its eighth title in the competition.

The Philippines has never won the competition, but made the semifinals for the first time in 2010, a moment that unlocked a new level of historical achievement for the sport in the country. They are seeking a return trip there for the first time since 2018, hoping that a fifth crack in the last four would ensure its first-ever finals berth.

In order to finally pull off that feat, one will have to earn their way by claiming the top two spots of their respective pools in the group phase.

Group A is comprised of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste, who needed to survive a playoff against Brunei Darussalam to complete the field, with Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos in Group B.

The crossover semifinals is slated to take place at the end of December, with the final being slotted a week later. These two rounds are each to be played through two legs.

adidas, ASEAN Football Federation form partnership for ASEAN United FC competitions

[L-R] Thibault Durand, Senior Vice President & General Manager for adidas South East Asia and Major General Khiev Sameth, President, AFF

The ASEAN Football Federation forged a partnership with adidas this week, allowing the latter serve as the Official Performance Partner for its four competitions that are under its ASEAN United FC umbrella: the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup, the ASEAN Women's Championship, and the ASEAN U-23 Championship.

Brokered and arranged by the AFF's exclusive commercial partner SPORTFIVE, the partnership allows adidas to provide an unmatched and unforgettable experience for its players and fans, thanks to the latter's experience in the sport and commitment to innovation.

adidas will serve as the official match ball for all four ASEAN United FC competitions, as well as take care of the ball kids and serve as the kit supplier for the referees. This highlights the long-standing commitment of the brand with regards to inclusivity in sports for all athletes, thanks to their steadfast support for championships in both the youth level as well as with women.

Said partnership was formalized in a private ceremony at the Sunway Resort Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Gracing the event are Thibault Durand, Senior Vice President & General Manager for adidas South East Asia, Major General Khiev Sameth, President, AFF, Winston Lee, General Secretary, AFF, and Seamus O’Brien, President and Chairman of the Board, SPORTFIVE Asia. Also present were a few football luminaries: Steffi Sidhu Kaur, Captain of the Malaysian Women’s National Football Team, Nicholas Swirad, Centre-back for the Kuala Lumpur City FC, Irfan Bachdim, former striker for the Indonesian Men’s National Team and the legendary Safee Sali, former Captain of the Malaysian Men’s National Football Team.

In forming this partnership, Durand says, "We are thrilled to partner with the AFF, an organisation that shares adidas’ passion for developing the game of football in South East Asia. This partnership goes beyond the tournaments and as partners we are committed to inspiring the next generation of footballers and fans across the region while bringing more youth into sports."

Sameth adds, "adidas is renowned throughout the world for their storied history in football and creating innovative partnerships.  We are proud to partner with adidas to grow our beautiful game and each of our four marquee events.  We also look forward to working with adidas and our Commercial Partner SPORTFIVE to develop unique engagement programmes to enhance fan experiences, celebrate our diversity and continue strengthening the unity of our ASEAN community of hundreds of millions through the sport that unites us all."

O'Brien concludes, "SPORTFIVE has enjoyed collaborating with adidas on football properties throughout the world for decades.  We are now delighted to have formed this significant partnership between the AFF and adidas in ASEAN, one of the world’s fastest growing consumer markets, where football is the number one sport.  As Official Performance Partner, adidas brings the dynamic spirit of its brand and football expertise which will undoubtedly help to elevate ASEAN football from the grassroots to elite levels and ensure that its football community of players and fans continues to thrive."

The event also served as the launch for the official match balls to be used for the ME Cup and the inaugural Shopee Cup.