It's only a few days away from the history-making debut of the Philippine women's national football team in the FIFA Women's World Cup on July 21, which can be seen on One Sports and Pilipinas Live.
Today we shine a spotlight on key midfielders Ryley Bugay and Anicka Castañeda.
Midfielders are required to be the fittest players on the pitch. They need to have high stamina as they are expected to travel the longest distance during the match, while aiming to have majority of the possession, as well as helping attackers secure goals.
Get to know two of them here.
Name: Kristen Ryley Sy Bugay
Position: Midfielder
Age: 27
Birthplace: West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Club: Free agent
They called her "Ry Boo Boo Glue" in college.
It's an affectionate nickname that developed from just how Ryley Bugay was vital to the Marquette Golden Eagles' run from 2015 to 2018 in NCAA Division I back in the United States.
"She’s kind of that glue for us," head coach Markus Roeders said to Marquette Wire. "She’s not going to score you a ton of goals. She might provide you the occasional assist," he added.
"She’s kind of the nuts and bolts to kind of keep everything together."
Bugay has made 21 appearances for the Philippines, starting with the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup match against Jordan, playing from center back to a defensive midfielder. She also gained experience as part of German club 1. FC Saarbruecken.
And it looks like "Ry Boo Boo Glue" will continue to serve as the glue for everyone, as she's literally learning to patch people up.
Bugay knows what it's like to get injured, having torn her ACL during junior high school. She had four more surgeries after that. Her sister Sammi suffered the same injury a few years later.
Now, she's an MD student at the Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville.
From midfielder to MD, top that!
Let ‘em know
Like many Filipinas, the idea that they will be playing in the FIFA Women's World Cup hasn't really sunk in yet. Even after over a year.
"After the game was over, my teammates and I were in tears at how far we’ve progressed as a team and as a country. That moment was very surreal. I still think, ‘pinch me,'" Bugay told the IU-School of Medicine.
The Philippines may be the underdog in Group A against Switzerland, New Zealand, and Norway. But the Filipinas won't back down.
"The culture of the Philippines has a lot of heart to it, and that transcends into our team culture," Bugay said. "Even if we’re not the best team or the most talented, we give our heart and soul on the field."
Pass the sass
This woman is a world-class athlete and studying to be a physician. Really can't have a bigger flex than that.
"I would love to give back to someone what was given to me," she said in the IU interview. "For me it was the ability to play football again, but it might be something different for someone else."
Keep slaying
Bugay has no goals to her name, but she will always be a part of that history-making team at the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup against Chinese Taipei, booking their ticket to the World Cup.
Off the court, she can also be a voice of reason. Here's a clip of her back during the height of the pandemic, lending words of inspiration to her co-athletes through Upper V Athlete Management.
"Take the time each day to be thankful for something and stay positive," she said.
Name: Anicka Chabeli Arrieta Castañeda
Position: Midfielder
Age: 23
Birthplace: Mandaluyong, Philippines
Club: Mount Druitt Town Rangers
Anicka Castañeda is one of the few Filipinas who were born in the Philippines and played in the country.
She suited up for the junior futsal team of De La Salle Zobel, and became captain of the National Capital Region team in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa secondary girls event.
Castañeda made her national team debut in 2017 during the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers against the United Arab Emirates. Overall, she has made 38 appearances for the Philippines with 11 goals to her name.
Let 'em know
Anicka and Sara Castañeda have both suited up for the Philippine women's national football team in various points of their lives. It's a good motivation.
"It would be cool to play with my sister in the field," Anicka told The La Sallian in 2019.
"If you play with your other teammates for a long time, you will also have the same connection," Sara added.
While Sara Castañeda may not be in the final lineup, they have an entire sisterhood of Filipinas to rely on.
Pass the sass
This midfielder is pretty low-key. But flashing the jersey of Australia's Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC is a pretty sweet accomplishment to flaunt.
She even has a football full of signatures and love from her teammates.
Keep slaying
Castañeda lets her 11 goals speak for herself. Check out this header in the 2022 AFF Women's Championship, giving the Philippines the fourth goal against Malaysia.
Abante Babae is a series featuring the Filipinas playing in the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Get to know top scorers Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada; key defenders Dominique Randle, Jessika Cowart, Sofia Harrison and Reina Bonta; fellow midfielders Sara Eggesvik and Jaclyn Sawicki; new faces Angela Beard and Alicia Barker; vital forwards Chandler McDaniel, Katrina Guillou, Carleigh Frilles, and Meryll Soriano; as well as goalkeepers Kiara Fontanilla, Olivia McDaniel, and Kaiya Jota.
For details on how to watch their matches live, read here.
(GM)