Azkals fine as quake rocks Japan

MANILA, Philippines - The Azkals stood their ground amid a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck Japan’s northeastern coast at around noontime yesterday.

 “The team is fine. They didn’t even feel it,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta over the phone.

The Azkals are in Gotemba, a city located on the southeastern flank of Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka, and close to 200 kms away from the capital of Tokyo.

The Azkals are in Japan, where the temperature drops to zero degree with occasional snow showers, gearing up for a March 15 match with Mongolia.

They leave Japan on Saturday for UIan Bator in Mongolia.

The other day, weather in Ulan Bator was at minus-11 degrees, and the short stint in Japan should give the Azkals enough time to acclimatize.

The Azkals were scheduled to play a friendly against a Japanese squad, but as of presstime nothing has been made available regarding the result.

Phil Younghusband said in his Twitter account that “training is doing well.”

Another post made by Azkals team coordinator Ace Bright said they were scheduled to visit a hot spring somewhere in Gotemba yesterday.

“Japan is known for its hot springs and I’m sure they need one right now,” said Araneta, who will travel to Ulan Bator on Saturday.

The Azkals arrived in Japan two days ago, and last Tuesday they took their first practice session under zero degree weather.

Yesterday’s earthquake reportedly shook buildings hundreds of miles away in Tokyo and triggering a small tsunami. But there were no reports of serious damage or injuries.

A report said the epicenter was pointed about 90 miles off the northeastern coast – about 270 miles northeast of Tokyo – at a depth of about five miles.

In Tokyo, office buildings swayed and creaked for about 30 seconds during the quake.