FILIPINAS coach Mark Torcaso expressed confidence about the capabilities of the team even without their marquee players in Sarina Bolden and Katrina Guillou for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Torcaso said he has a balanced line-up with young players already getting cohesion with the World Cup holdovers ahead of the competition where the team looks to secure a place in the Asian Cup by being the top team in Group G.
READ: Sarina Bolden, Katrina Guillou not on Filipinas' Asia Cup roster
“We are confident in every player in our pool and we are excited by the 26 that will battle it out for us to get to the Asian Cup,” Torcaso said in a statement.
“I believe it’s well-balanced and provides quality in every area of the pitch. It’s also great to see some of our strong young players that have progressed and developed over the years join some of our World Cup superstars,” Torcaso said.
The Filipinas will be without Bolden and Guillou, key players in the squad’s run at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team only cited “injury or unavailability” as the reasons for the absence of the veteran players which also include defender Reina Bonta.
Bolden was the goal scorer of the Philippines in its 1-0 win over New Zealand, while Guillou has brought stability as the attacking midfielder for the Filipinas over the years.
Torcaso’s optimism hasn’t wavered even with their absence.
“We are looking forward to Cambodia and we can’t wait to get out there and perform for all our fans at home and abroad,” Torcaso added.
The Philippines will look to book a spot back to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022 where the team reached the semifinals before being defeated by Korea.
It was also in the same tournament where the Filipinas qualified for the World Cup, which will now feature a separate qualification tournament for the 2027 edition.
Quinley Quezada, Meryll Serrano, Sofia Harrison-Wunsch, and Carleigh Frilles return to the team after missing the recent international window last May and will be joined in the team by holdovers Hali Long, Sara Eggesvik, Olivia McDaniel, Angela Beard, Jaclyn Sawicki, Jessika Cowart, Chandler McDaniel, Malea Cesar, Bella Pasion, Janae Defazio, and Kaya Hawkinson.
Homegrown veterans Inna Palacios, Dionesa Tolentin, and Charisa Lemoran, Nina Meollo, Rhea Arcenal, Chan, and Katana Norman, and youth players Nina Mathelus, Gabrielle Baker, Alexa Pino, Ava Villapando, and Chayse Yang are also on the team.
The Philippines begins its Women’s Asian Cup campaign on June 29 against Saudi Arabia. The Filipinas will also battle host Cambodia on July 2 and Hong Kong on July 5.
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