Easy draw enhances Pinay booters bid

The Philippines seeks to make the most of what many feel is a relatively good draw as it competes in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers on April 3-12 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The Pinay booters take on Group A opponents Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, UAE and host Tajikistan – rivals who are either lower in Fifa world ranking or unranked due to lack of matches – with their eyes set on the lone spot to the 2018 bootfest.

Phl needs to top the group to advance to the Women’s Asian Cup for the first time ever. But if Jordan wins the group, a runnerup finish will be enough. The Jordanians, being the hosts of the final round, are already seeded into the tourney along with holder Japan, Australia and China.

“Of course we’ll always go for the win and the qualification,” assistant coach Alfredo Estacion said during the sendoff ceremony hosted for the team by the Philippine Football Federation yesterday.

Coach Buda Bautista assembled a crack 18-member squad for the mission, led by veteran Patrice Impelido and Fil-Ams Claire Lim, Hali Long, Eva Madarang, Patricia Tomanon and Hanna Parado.

“I feel we are ready. People say we have an easier job but we can’t take any of these teams for granted; we still have to play for our spot and we all have want the same thing – to qualify next year,” said Impelido, who takes a breather from her job as an assistant coach for the U-15 girls’ side to provide experience to her younger teammates.

“With our lineup and these teams (in the group), I think we have a great chance and the fact that the second (placed) team can go through increases it even more,” said Florida-based Parado.

The Filipinas leave for Tajikistan today. They will kick off their quest against UAE on April 3 at Central Republican Stadium in the Tajik capital.