Azkals U-21 draws top XIs in Bolkiah tilt

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Under-21 team braces for a tough group in the fifth Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy with former champion Thailand and contender Myanmar as groupmates Aug. 9-23 bootfest in Brunei.

The Pinoy U-21 booters were drawn with 2005 and 2007 winner Thailand and fancied Myanmar in Group A of the biennial meet along with Laos and Timor Leste in the recent draw.

Group B proves to be as tough with host Brunei starting its title-defense against 2002 ruler and 2012 runner-up Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia.

Handled by Australian World Cupper Jim Fraser, Phl U-21 is into the initial stages of its long term build-up for the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.

The squad’s first tournament is the HBT, considered as Southeast Asia’s premier U-21 competition, and to gear up, Phl XI is currently holding a training camp in Singapore.

The Pinoys are scheduled to play Singapore U-21 last night at Yishun Stadium in Singapore.

After their weeklong stint in Singapore, Fraser plans to gather the U-21 mainstays, along with five senior players led by Jason de Jong and Patrick Deyto, in another camp in Manila before embarking on their bid in Brunei.