The Philippine Women’s National Football Team will be having 7 new young players in their lineup ahead of their title defense at the MSIG Serenity Cup come August 7.
New Faces to be Developed for the Filipinas
7 from the 23-player lineup will be representing the Philippines in the international competition for the first time ever.
Isabella Alamo (Midfielder), Lyka Cuenco (Defender), and Tea Pidding (Forward) will all be coming from the youth program of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, players from the PFF Women’s League, who are:
- Midfielders: Jaycee DeFazio and Adelaide Wyrzynski
- Defenders: Azumi Oka and Aaliyah Schinaman
Will also be wearing the iconic blue, white, and red jerseys of the Philippine National team for the first time ever.
Remaining Key Veterans from their last 2022 Title
In hopes of replicating their success 3 years ago, Head Coach Marc Torcaso has also selected veteran players from their championship lineup to guide their team to success.
These vets are:
- Defenders: Hali Long, Kaya Hawkinson, and Malea Cesar
- Goalkeepers: Inna Palacios and Olivia McDaniel,
- Midfielders: Quinley Quezada
It can be remembered that Olivia McDaniel played a critical part in the 2022 finals match against Thailand as she made sure their opponents wouldn’t score at all as they ended the game, 3-0.
In addition to these leftovers, veteran national players will also join the squad, which are Chandler McDaniel and Bella Pasion, Janae Defazio, Charisa Lemoran, and Dionesa Tolentin.
PFF President John Gutierrez: “We are in an exciting chapter of our football story.”
Philippine Football Federation John Gutierrez shared his excitement about wanting the Filipinas win back to back titles in the MSIG Serenity Cup.
“As the Filipinas prepare to defend their crown at the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup, they have already inspired millions with their achievements, especially their recent qualification to the AFC Women’s Cup next year. So now they need our full support to continue making history,” said Gutierrez.
He then added that he has full faith that this squad, despite having a lot of newcomers, can achieve success.
“We are in an exciting chapter of our football story. We have tasted victory, we have seen what is possible, and we know we can achieve more. Let us keep believing in each other in the spirit of SAMA SAMA.”
Building for the Future of Philippine Women’s Football
Head Coach Torcaso has reiterated that the reason why this lineup is far different than what they had 3 years ago is because:
They are building for the future talents of the national team ahead of their participation in the AFC Women’s Asia Cup 2026, and secondly is, there are numerous veteran players who are injured and couldn’t be with the team.
“We’re excited to bring a strong, youthful squad to this camp — a good blend of our experienced players, but also a number of U17 and U20 players to join us. While we have a few players unavailable, due to this not being a FIFA window, this opens up a great opportunity for our talented young players to step up.”
“This is an exciting opportunity for our young players to gain experience and compete at a high level. They’ve earned this chance, and we see it as a key part of our long-term plan for preparing for the 2026 Asian Cup. As defending champions, we’re here to win and do the best we can for the country and our fans. We believe in the depth of our squad and we’re ready to showcase it,” he said in the press release from the PFF website.
Sarina Bolden, the leading scorer of the team in 2022, is sidelined with an ACL injury. While Katrina Guillou, Sara Eggesvik, and Meryll Serrano aren’t with the team because the regional competition is not part of the FIFA international window.
