Tough task ahead for RP booters

BACOLOD — One win doesn’t guarantee the Philippines a spot in the Asean Football Championship. And national team coach Aris Caslib admits there’s a lot of work to be done to reach that goal.

"We may celebrate, yes, but we have to also bear in mind there is still a lot of work to be done," Caslib said the morning after his wards clobbered Timor Leste, 7-0, Tuesday.

The win, the biggest ever by an RP squad in international competition in recent memory, gave the Filipinos a 1-1 win-loss slate and three points in the five-team Asean Football Federation event.

Laos, thanks to a 2-1 win over the host on opening day Sunday and a 2-2 draw with debuting Cambodia later last Tuesday, leads the field with four points. Brunei also has three points and Cambodia one while winless Timor remains without any point.

Only the top two finishers in this event presented by the Philippine Football Federation, hosted by the Negros Occidental Football Association and sponsored by Pepsi, Mizuno, Gatorade, PLDT, Premier Water, Petron and GMA Radio Network advance to the tournament proper set in January.

Standing between the Filipinos and its goal are Cambodia and Brunei, which the home team battles on Saturday and Monday, respectively.

Fil-Briton Chris Greatwich, a reserve for West Bromwich in the English leagues, said there should be little doubt the Philippines will make it to the tournament proper that already has six early qualifiers.

"I don’t think we have any one to be scared of here. This team is better, more mature, more experienced," said the 23-year-old striker.

Team skipper Alexander "Ali" Borromeo, agrees, noting the players, including six Fil-foreigners, have now completely adjusted to each other.

"That loss to Laos is just a fluke. More than anything else, the Timor game showcased how we can improve and we can only go on improving with each game," said the 6-foot-2 defender.