Filipina5 set out to show they belong on world futsal stage
Playing at home should give the Philippine women’s futsal team the ultimate boost on the first match day of the inaugural Fifa Futsal Women’s World Cup.
“I know our home crowd will bring the energy and fight with us until the very end,” Bella Flanigan said going into its opening match on Friday against Poland at 8:30 p.m. at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Proving to the fans and the rest of the futsal world that it can be on par with opponents and 14 other participants in the women’s indoor scene will be another story for the team dubbed as Filipina5, a stylized version of the women’s national team’s moniker, Filipinas.
And Flanigan, coach Rafa Merino and Co. are eager to prove that months of buildup, which included training camps in Japan and Spain, could translate into a dream campaign at home.
The first step is to hurdle a Polish side ranked No. 14 by Fifa and could be among the favorites to secure one of the top spots in the quarterfinals.
“Poland is a very strong team and it’s an honor to be able to share the court with such amazing female athletes,” said Flanigan. “We are excited for the challenge and excited to show what we can do on the world stage.”
A trio of World Cup vets
Flanigan, Jaclyn Sawicki and Katrina Guillou are three players on the squad who were also part of the Philippines’ maiden stint in the Fifa Women’s World Cup, which took place two years ago in New Zealand.
And the trio will be looking to not just get at least one win, but progress past Group A, which also includes Argentina and Morocco, which kick off competition at 6 p.m, as they look to provide a glimpse of what futsal is, which a competition that is far different than the traditional football played mostly outdoors.
Unlike in football, where 11 players from each team are on the field, futsal is a 5-on-5 game with a court that is bigger than ones used in basketball.
And like basketball, the clock will run backwards, with time stoppages at every dead-ball situation. Each half has 20 minutes.
Also on the team are Inday Tolentin, Charisa Lemoran, Catherine Graversen, Judy Connolly, Alisha del Campo, Samantha Hughes, Regine Rebosura, Rocelle Mendano, Isabella Bandoja, Lanie Ortillo and Kayla Santiago.
A camp was held in Japan last September before staging another one in Spain, where it was able to face its national team counterpart in a friendly.
