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Friday, March 29, 2024

PH Azkals get ‘lighter’ group in SEA Games

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The Philippine national men’s football will not be facing defending champion Thailand in the group stage of the 30th Southeast Asian Games men’s football tournament.

That’s because the Philippines, during the drawing of lots at the Sofitel Hotel on Tuesday, has been bracketed in a relatively “lighter” Group A with Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Timor Leste when competitions are held starting on Nov. 26 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, in Binan, Laguna and at the Imus Grandstand in Cavite.

“With 45 days to go, we are all excited. The team draw will help finalize the schedule of events,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who joined representatives from 11-member countries.

Thailand, which is seeking the crown it won at the expense of Malaysia two years ago, will be the team to beat. The Thais are in the same group with Indonesia, which settled for the bronze medal the last time around. Thailand will also deal with Vietnam, Laos, Singapore and Brunei.

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The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout playoffs.

Serbian coach Goran Milojevic will be involved with Scott Cooper in the PH Azkals’ campaign.

Group B will be a tough group because Vietnam will be putting up a fight after settling for the bronze back in 2017.

The draw of lots for football, supervised by competition manager Coco Torre, coincided with the draws that were also done for volleyball, water polo, badminton and underwater hockey.

In women’s football, defending champion Vietnam was bracketed separate from the Philippines in Group B with Thailand and Indonesia.

The Philippines, which is coached by Let Dimson, will fight for a semis slot against Myanmar and Malaysia.

In men’s volleyball, defending titlist Thailand is in Group A with Myanmar, Singapore, Timor-Leste and the Philippines, while Group B will have Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Competition manager Ariel Paredes suspended the draw of lots in women’s volleyball, which only has five entries–Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.

In water polo, the men’s division will have the Philippines bunched with Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, according to competition manager Aldo Tong.

The women’s division is made up of Thailand, Philippines and Singapore. 

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