THE PHILIPPINES was defeated by Thailand, 3-1, in the third-place game in the ASEAN Under-23 Mandiri Cup in Jakarta on Monday.
Otu Banatao scored the lone goal of the match for the Philippine U23 team in the 79th minute, preventing the team from being blanked in the contest.
Phanthamit Prapanth (29th), Siraphop Wandee (74th), and Seksan Ratree (86th) were the goal scorers for Thailand.
The Philippines closed the tournament at fourth place, still the best finish of the team in the tournament that is now in its fifth edition.
It opened the competition on a high by defeating erstwhile fourth placer of the competition Malaysia, 2-0, on a brace by Banatao.
The Philippines also had a respectable showing against finalist Indonesia, losing by just a goal, 1-0.
It advanced to the semifinals as the best second-placed team among the three groups by beating Brunei, 2-0, on a penalty kick by Javier Mariona and a goal by Harry James Nunez.
The Philippines couldn’t pull off another surprising result in the tournament as it was beaten by reigning champion Vietnam, 2-1, in the semifinals despite scoring the first goal in the match.
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