Filipinas eye strong start in ASEAN Serenity Cup opener

The Philippine women’s national football team, known as the Filipinas, begins its title defense in the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup on Thursday night against Timor-Leste at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho, Vietnam. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. Manila time).

The Filipinas are eager to start strong after settling in Vietnam last Sunday. The tournament, formerly known as the AFF Women’s Championship, features a new name but the same high stakes. The Filipinas captured the 2022 title at home, with Sarina Bolden scoring eight goals and leading the squad to a 3–0 victory over Thailand in the final.

Despite being heavy favorites against Timor-Leste—who qualified after Singapore’s withdrawal—head coach Mark Torcaso is focused on player development and preparation for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

“I’m not too worried about what the opponents are doing. We’re going to focus on our team and give every young girl a chance in this tournament,” said Torcaso.

Several key players are unavailable due to the tournament falling outside the FIFA window, including Katrina Guillou, Sara Eggesvik, Meryll Serrano, and Sarina Bolden, who is recovering from injury. However, veterans such as Quinley Quezada, Chandler McDaniel, Olivia McDaniel, Hali Long, and Inna Palacios are set to guide a younger squad.

“These veterans are vital—they’ll share their experiences from the AFF, World Cup, and Asian Cup with our younger players,” Torcaso added.

New talents, including Jaycee DeFazio, Adelaide Wyrzynski, Azumi Oka, Aaliyah Schinaman, and several youth program standouts, are poised to make their senior debuts.

As they open their Serenity Cup campaign, the Filipinas are not just aiming to defend their regional crown, but also to build the future of women’s football in the Philippines.