It's on to the next one for team captain Bella Flanigan and the rest of the Filipina5 in the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup Philippines 2025.
It was not the result that Bella Flanigan and the rest of the Filipina5 envisioned as they stepped onto the global futsal stage for the first time.
The Philippine squad succumbed to a 0-6 beatdown at the hands of world No. 14 Poland in the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025.
Still, Flanigan believes that this setback could only help the squad moving forward.
“We really wanted to focus on our game and how we play,” Flanigan told reporters after the match.
“Going into the next, we’ve got a lot to learn from and a lot to fix, and it’s going to be a very good experience to take into our next game. We’re putting this behind us so we can go into the next match fresh and fine.”
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Strong start on defense
The Filipina5 held its own defensively early on, before Poland broke away with a series of clinical finishes.
Flanigan acknowledged the bright sequences the Philippines showed, particularly in their defensive shape and transitions, but stressed the importance of building consistency at this level.
“Our goal was to focus on ourselves, how we defended, how we transitioned in our runs, everything about us,” Flanigan said.
“Going into the next match, we’re going to take everything from this game, learn from it, and then put it behind us.”
Bella Flanigan battles for possession during Filipina5's historic FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup debut. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Leading by example
As one of three captains alongside Inday Tolentin and Shai Del Campo, Flanigan said leadership is as much about composure under pressure as it is about execution on the court.
“For us captains, we really wanted to be examples for the team,” she explained.
“To set the tone in what we need to accomplish in terms of attacking, defending and making sure the standards are okay on and off the court.”
Despite the difficult debut, the Filipina5 remains focused on growth and representing the country with pride, as they look to score a monumental win against Morocco Monday, Nov. 24.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.