OLIVIA McDaniel and the Philippine Women's National Football Team are embracing the pressure that comes with being the defending champion of the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup that will be held this year.
The Filipinas will look to defend the ASEAN Football Federation-staged competition, winning the crown in 2022 in front of home fans at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
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Though details such as dates and venue have yet to be announced, the tournament is right around the corner after the AFF announced on Tuesday during a press conference in Singapore that it has a title sponsor for this year.
And McDaniel said they are embracing the challenge of repeating as champions and having targets on their backs.
“I think that there’s always pressure, whether you’re coming in as a defending champion or coming in to try and take that championship away from someone else,” said the Filipinas goalkeeper during the presser in Singapore.
“But I think (it’s) something that my team especially, we like to live by is ‘pressure is a privilege,’” said McDaniel, taking a page out of an iconic quote by tennis legend Billie Jean King.
“So I think it’s such a privilege to be able to play in such high stakes like this and be able to play against such amazing players. It’s going to be tough, but we’re looking to bring it home,” McDaniel added, who was actually named the Woman of the Match during the Filipinas’ historic 1-0 win over New Zealand in the FIFA Women’s World Cup two years ago.
Four-time champions Thailand, three-time winners Vietnam, and World Cup semifinalist Australia stand in the way of the Philippines’ bid for a second ASEAN women’s crown.
Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Singapore round out the eight teams competing in the regional event.
The leadership of BPI Insurance, which has a partnership with MSIG, is in full support of the Filipinas.
“The story of this Philippine women’s national football team winning against all odds is very much like the story of our Filipino customers, who often find themselves embattled with natural and man-made calamities, challenges that we can help them win with our protection solutions,” said BPI/MS Insurance Corporation president and CEO Ichiro Iwabuchi.
“Through this partnership, we hope to inspire and reinforce the importance of preparation and protection, ensuring that Filipino dreams can continue to thrive, no matter the obstacles,” he added.
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