The Philippine women’s cricket team have had their hands full with a busy season in 2025, and they hope to cap the year with the medal in the Southeast Asian Games.
BANGKOK — The Philippine women’s cricket team will be banking on familiarity as they vie for another podium finish in two events in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games here.
Heading into the biennial tournament with an eventful year, head coach Derek Budd said that they are eager to build on their double silver medal campaign in the previous SEA Games.
“We've got a really good set of young girls. We've got really big shoes to fill from the last SEA Games. Like you said, two silvers. So we're going to really try and do our best to medal. The competition this year is very, very strong. So we have to just respect everyone,” Budd told POC media on Sunday.
“But if we bring our A-game, I think then we've got a very good chance of medalling.”
Budd and his players reached the Thailand capital at around noon on Sunday, flying in with other members of the record-breaking delegation of Team Philippines.
With eyes all on host country Thailand, Budd and the Filipino cricketers are keeping themselves on guard.
“With Thailand, the strongest nation, I think to get past them is going to be a real challenge. And Indonesia, again, very strong. We played them earlier this year, a very, very good team,” Budd explained.
“So they're going to be the names to look out for. But like I said, if all the girls perform and do their very best, then we've got a very good chance,” he added.
Busy and booming
Even as the members of the Philippine women’s cricket team had little time to really focus on the SEA Games, Budd remains optimistic because of the eventful season that they’ve had so far.
With players coming in from the Philippines, Australia, and Hong Kong, there will be a good mix of talent for this year's squad.
As each player vies to reach their peak in time for their competition starting on Tuesday against Myanmar in T10, which is a short form of cricket, Budd hopes to put the team’s best foot forward in the SEA Games.
“So we've been lucky this year where we have toured [a lot]. This will be our fifth tour in 12 months. So the group of girls, they know each other well now. We have some new ones coming for SEA Games. Everyone is familiar with their games now,” said Budd.
“And it's also the girls in the Philippines, we're in season, we're playing. And the girls in Australia, again, they're in season, they're playing. And those in Hong Kong. So everyone is playing regularly now. So everyone should be ready. The fitness has been good. So the preparation has all been there,” he added.
Still, it will be easier said than done as the Philippines will need to execute swiftly to gain the upper hand early.
“Now we just have to go out and deliver. And we're all very excited to get the first game under our belt,” he said.
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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.