By REYNALD MAGALLON
From one World Cup to another.
The Philippine Women’s National Football Team, coming off off a successful FIFA World Cup stint, paid a visit at the PhilSports Arena on Thursday and showed support to Gilas Pilipinas which, in two weeks’ time, will also be facing the same immense pressure in the FIBA 2023 World Cup.
Team official Belay Fernando and captain Hali Long along with country’s first world cup goal scorer Sarina Bolden, goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, defender Inna Palacios and striker Chandler McDaniel were welcomed by Gilas head coach Chot Reyes, Jordan Clarkson and the rest of the Nationals.
The Filipinas bowed out in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup but nonetheless made quite an impression after netting the country’s first win right on its very first stint in the global showpiece.
The Filipinas, after dropping their first games against Switzerland, bounced back and scored the history 1-0 victory over host New Zealand.
The brief exchange of thoughts and experiences should also provide more inspiration to Gilas which is now on the home stretch of its preparations for the World Cup.
Reyes had earlier expressed admiration for the Filipinas’ splendid run on the world stage.
“The victory of the Filipinas is giving us tremendous inspiration, that if the Filipinas can do it, then so can we,” said Reyes in an earlier interview.
“We talked about it and showed it, and we said this is what we can do,” he added.
