On the evening of December 5, the Philippine Men’s National Football under 22 Team recorded their first ever win in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
Alex Monis Strikes First After Early Pressure
The Filipinos quickly settled into the match, pushing Myanmar back with sustained possession and aggressive wing play.
Their breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute through Alex Monis, who continued his run of confident form.
Photo Credits: Philippine Men’s National Football Team
A swift counterattack launched by Dylan Demuynck created the scoring chance. Spotting Monis bursting into the box, Demuynck delivered a precise cross that the midfielder hammered into the net from close range, giving the Philippines an ideal early advantage.
The goal stunned the Burmese, who had struggled to contain the Philippines’ wide rotations and quick passing combinations during the opening phase.
Second-Half Surge and Myanmar’s Costly Error
Myanmar returned from halftime with greater urgency, pressing higher in an attempt to disrupt the Filipinos’ rhythm. But only five minutes into the second period, another Demuynck delivery caused panic inside the Myanmar box.
Photo Credits: Philippine Men’s National Football Team
His low cross created confusion among the defenders, leading Latt Wai Phone to inadvertently deflect the ball into his own goal in the 50th minute. The miscue doubled the Philippine lead and placed firm control of the match in their hands.
Eight minutes later, the Philippines nearly made it 3–0 when another buildup involving Demuynck resulted in what looked like a third goal. However, the effort was waived off after Otu Banatao was ruled offside during the sequence.
Creating Chances and Defending the Lead
With momentum fully on their side, the Filipinos continued to press for a decisive third goal. Gavin Muens unleashed a strong long-range strike in the 70th minute, but the Myanmar goalkeeper reacted quickly to parry it away. Banatao attempted to head in the rebound, but his effort sailed high.
Myanmar refused to fold completely and produced their best chance late in the match, striking the post in one of their final pushes forward. Still, the Philippine defense held its structure, clamping down on each wave of attacks and preserving a clean sheet until the final whistle.
FINAL SCORE: MYANMAR 0 – 2 PHILIPPINES
Bright Start in Chiangmai
The victory came on the same day the country marked the 15th anniversary of the “Miracle of Hanoi,” adding symbolic weight to the team’s strong opening performance.
The match also helped soothe the sting of the Filipinas’ earlier 2–1 defeat to Myanmar in the women’s division, where the Philippine side conceded a heartbreaking winner in the 89th minute.
Top of the Group and What Comes Next
The result earned the Philippines all three points and placed them atop Group C, giving them a positive start in their pursuit of a semifinal berth.
Photo Credits: Philippine Men’s National Football Team
In this edition of the Southeast Asian Games, only the group winners are guaranteed automatic progression, while one additional slot goes to the best second-placed team across the three groups.
The Filipinos now shift their focus to a crucial matchup against defending champions Indonesia, on Monday, December 8 at the same venue.
A win would secure their place in the knockout stage, though even a narrow loss could still keep them in contention depending on results in the other groups.
