The Philippine National Football Men’s under 23 team missed out on the bronze medal after losing against Thailand last night, July 28 in the ASEAN U-23 Championship.
Offensive Prowess from the War Elephants of Thailand
The War Elephants looked composed from the start, carving out early chances and controlling the pace of the first half. They nearly went ahead in the 20th minute when Siraphop Wandee curled a left-footed shot just wide of the post. Their breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute through Phanthamit Prapanth, who redirected a low delivery from stand-in captain Sittha Boonlha into the net from close range.
Thailand continued to press and nearly doubled its lead six minutes later. A well-timed through ball from Yotsakorn Burapha sent Siraphop through on goal, but Philippine goalkeeper Nicholas Guimarães came up with a crucial one-on-one save to keep the deficit at one.
HALFTIME SCORE: Philippines 0 – 1 Thailand
The young PMNFT came out with renewed energy after the break. Jian Caraig threatened early in the second half, bursting into the Thai penalty area only to be denied by a last-ditch block from defender Pichitchai Sienkrathok. Still, Thailand remained dangerous and forced Guimarães into another fine save, this time to tip away a firm header by Pattarapon Suksakit.
In the 74th minute, Thailand extended its lead after capitalizing on a defensive error. A misplaced back-pass allowed Chanawit Sealao to pounce and, after a chaotic sequence involving Guimarães and defender Jaime Rosquillo, the ball was worked across the box to Siraphop. The forward made no mistake, curling a low shot into the far corner to make it 2-0.
Despite the setback, the Pinoy refused to concede defeat. Five minutes later, they pulled one back when Gavin Muens lofted a pinpoint ball into the box for Otu Bisong Banatao, who sent a clever looping header beyond Thai keeper Sorawat Phosaman.
Sensing a potential equaliser, the Filipinos pushed forward. Banatao nearly leveled the match in the 85th minute with an acrobatic backward header off a long throw from Caraig, only for the ball to crash against the post.
With the Philippines committing numbers forward, Thailand punished them on the break in the 86th minute. Chaiyaphon Otton and Phon-Ek Jensen combined quickly to launch a counterattack, setting up substitute Seksan Ratree, who had just entered the pitch a minute earlier. Seksan made an immediate impact, finishing low off the left post to seal the result and Thailand’s third-place finish.
FINAL SCORE: Philippines 1 – 3 Thailand
Siraphop Wandee was named the Mandiri Player of the Match for his crucial second goal and overall performance.
Highest Finish in ASEAN Football Federation, Both in Juniors and Seniors
Despite the loss, the Philippines walked away from the tournament with heads held high as they earned their first podium finish in any ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) men’s tournament across all age levels.
The 4th place finish marked the end of a remarkable campaign for the young PMNFT, who reached the knockout stage for the first time in their five tournament appearances and achieved the nation’s best-ever points total in the competition.
Missed Out on the Bronze Medal for a Golden Future of Philippine Football
Head coach Garrath McPherson’s side showed clear progress and tactical development, with standout moments including their performances in the group stage and their resilience in the knockout rounds.
The Philippines even managed 53% possession against Thailand, though they struggled to convert control into clear-cut chances.
The Mandiri Cup provided a glimpse of what could be a promising future for the U-23 squad. As they now shift focus to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in December, which is also coincidentally hosted by Thailand.
