Half of the Filipinas' FIFA World Cup team are running it back, this time at the Asian Games.
The Philippine women’s national football team will be bringing in the big guns for the Asian Games.
The Filipinas going to Hangzhou, China will be bannered by 14 FIFA World Cup veterans led by Sarina Bolden, who fired the Philippines’ only goal in the FIFA World Cup last July, and Olivia McDaniel, who had the third most number of saves in the quadrennial showpiece for the women’s game.
Joining Bolden and McDaniel are their FIFA World Cup teammates in defenders Reina Bonta, Sofia Harrison, Jessika Cowart, and Hali Long; midfielders Anika Castañeda, Sara Eggesvik, Quinley Quezada, and Jaclyn Sawicki; forwards Katrina Guillou, Meryl Serrano, and Chandler McDaniel; and goalkeeper Kiara Fontanilla.
Filipinas veterans Eva Madarang, Inna Palacios, Camille Rodriguez, Kaya Hawkinson, and Isabella Pasion have also been called up for duty, with Natalie Oca and Alisha Del Camp round out the roster.
It also appears, judging by Eggesvik's Instagram Story on Tuesday, that the Filipinas are already in China and presumably ready for battle already.
Take a look:
Mark Torcaso, who was appointed Filipinas head coach only in August, will have his first taste of international competition for the Philippines. The team will start its Asian Games campaign on Friday, September 22, against Hong Kong.
The Filipinas will next play the formidable South Koreans on September 25, before rounding out the preliminary stage against Southeast Asian contender Myanmar on September 28.