In 2022, the Filipinas won via penalty shootout to reach first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup. At that time, Hali Long was blocked. This 2025, they won via penalty shootout for their first-ever SEA Games gold. This time, Hali didn't miss.
The penalty shootout is a core memory for Philippine Women's National Football Team captain Hali Long.
Usually, these are nerve-wracking moments for any player.
But in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games women's football match for the gold medal, Long did not get any jitters at all.
"I just felt it like we were gonna win. I've never felt so calm in penalties before," she said.
In the 2022 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinals, the Filipinas were tied with Chinese Taipei by the end of extra time, 1-1.
No one was willing to give an inch. After all, a berth to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was at stake.
The match would be going to a penalty shootout.
Things were tied, 2-2. Then, Jessica Miclat missed.
Chinese Taipei's Chen Ying-hui though didn't.
When it was Hali's turn, she also missed. But Olivia McDaniel and Sarina Bolden ensured the Filipinas would win via penalties to reach their first-ever FIFA Women World Cup.
Fast forward to the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, and the Filipinas entered their first-ever gold medal match.
And as fate would have it, the gold would be decided via penalty shootout.
This time, the Filipinas skipper did not miss.
"I'm usually just losing my head."
"I think since our World Cup qualifiers, when I missed that, I really had to channel my inner Ate and step up to the plate each and every time to show that we can do it. It's just an unreal feeling," Long told Cignal's Bea Escudero.
What helped Hali stay calm was the confidence in the next generation of Filipinas, such as Jael Guy.
"Jael, she makes me feel so calm. I never thought a 19-year-old would help me feel that way. When she steps up to the plate, she delivers. I'm just so proud of her. All of our youngins, all of our old but gold, we finally have gold," she said.
Long also celebrated achieving over 100 caps, as she received a jersey with the word 100.
"100 was good, but 101 feels even better!" she quipped.
(With reports from Bea Escudero/Cignal)
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.