A younger and revamped Filipinas will step onto the pitch for the first time since the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, facing Timor Leste in the opening match of their ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup 2025 title defense.
The mission remains the same, but the faces have slightly changed for the Filipinas.
The Philippine Women’s National Football Team will kick off their ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup 2025 title defense with a Group A match against Timor Leste at the Viet Tri Stadium in Vietnam on August 7.
Match time is set for 8:30 p.m. (PH time).
While six veterans from their historic 2022 championship squad remain on the roster—including captain Hali Long, goalkeepers Olivia McDaniel and Inna Palacios, and attacking weapons Quinley Quezada, Kaya Hawkinson, and Malea Cesar—the Filipinas will field a younger lineup due to the tournament falling outside the FIFA international window.
[ALSO READ: Filipinas to rely on experience of 2022 holdovers for MSIG Serenity Cup title defense]
Mainstays like Katrina Guillou, Sara Eggesvik, and Meryll Serrano are unavailable, while World Cup hero Sarina Bolden is still recovering from an ACL tear sustained last May.
[ALSO READ: Filipinas striker Sarina Bolden opens up on ACL injury, vows strong comeback]
Still, there is no shortage of experience and hunger within the squad.
Familiar names like Chandler McDaniel, Bella Pasion, Janae DeFazio, Charisa Lemoran, and Dionesa Tolentin bring steady presence to the midfield and defense, as the Filipinas look to pick up where they left off nearly three years ago—when they lifted the trophy on home soil with a dominant 3-0 win over Thailand at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
[ALSO READ: Filipinas to lean on Chandler McDaniel amid Sarina Bolden absence in MSIG Serenity Cup]
Jaycee DeFazio, Adelaide Wyrzynski, Azumi Oka, Aaliyah Schinaman, Isabella Alamo, Lyka Cuenco, and Tea Pidding are also set to make their debut for the Filipinas.
The group stage, however, promises to be no cakewalk.
After Timor Leste, the Philippines will take on the Australia U-23 team on August 10, and then wrap up their group campaign against Myanmar on August 13. Only the top two finishers in Group A will advance to the knockout rounds.
Timor Leste, meanwhile, earned their spot in the competition by finishing fourth in the 2024 AFF Women’s Cup.
Fans can watch the game on the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Facebook page.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]