Sarina Bolden is back in training for the Philippine women’s national football team after dealing with injury.
Sarina Bolden is back from injury to train with the Philippine women’s national football team as the Filipinas prepare for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand starting next week and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March 2026.
Bolden, who injured her ACL earlier this year, returned to the team’s call-ups for the November FIFA window and is busy reintegrating to the team’s system after her lengthy absence.
For head coach Mark Torcaso, Bolden’s return seemed seamless as she eased her way back into the pool and possibly, health permitting, help the team gain enough power for a podium finish in Thailand.
“She's been good. It's like she's never left. She's brought a lot of smiles and a lot of happiness to the group,” Torcaso told the media during the recent launch of the Filipinas’ 2025-26 kits at the adidas Football Store in Pasay.
“She's got a very special presence in our team all the time.”
Bolden is one of the pillars for the Filipinas as their leading goal scorer. With second leading scorer Quinley Quezada announcing her pregnancy, the Fil-Am striker’s return comes at an opportune time for the national team.
“She's working through her rehab and slowly, slowly, but hopefully we have her right soon and she gets to represent our country again,” Torcaso said.
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Getting the ‘right team’
It’s not just going to be Bolden who will be key to the Filipinas’ success, though, as more players are also readily available for the national team even with the SEA Games happening outside of a FIFA window.
Seeking redemption and a podium finish after last taking the bronze in Vietnam in 2022, the Filipinas will need all the help they can get.
“It's looking good. We've got a lot of players obviously here that we're looking at. The training's been excellent so far,” said Torcaso, who is coaching in his first SEA Games.
“The girls have been good. We've had three training sessions. We're just making sure that we get the right team to go to the SEA Games,” he added.
The Filipinas are in Group B with familiar foes Myanmar, Vietnam, and Malaysia where they will need to finish in the Top 2 of their group to make it to the knockout stages.
Play begins for the Filipinas in Chonburi on December 5 against Myanmar.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.