THE Philippines U14 girls bounced back from a 0-3 defeat against host Vietnam on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Singapore on Wednesday to stay alive in Group B of the ongoing Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U14 Girls Qualifiers in Hanoi.
Singapore edged the young Pinays in the early ninth minute with the goal from Nur Afiqah Binte Oma, but Andrea Tiongson equalized in the 14th minute.
Both sides played tough in the next 20 minutes to close the first half, one-all.
Singaporean keeper Nur Izzati was stunned as Regine Rebosura gave the Philippines squad its second goal in the 41st which was followed up by Catherine Pardilla's winning goal in the 55th minute.
The Marnelli Dimzon-mentored girls are skipper and forward Tejanee Isulat and starting midfielder Christine Panares, both of San Carlos City; strikers Rena Agudolo, Jewel Dana, Anya Fuentes and Sophia Akillian; midfielders Maria Aloja Aquino, Mae Jannine Tan, Bethany Talbot, Michaela Maligalig and Kassandrea Zalamea; defenders Glynnes de la Cruz and Leslie Barimbao; and keepers Alexandrea Gumilao and Chiyo Marasigan.
The Philippines is playing against Malaysia - both with 1-1 win-loss card - as of press time. Host Vietnam has a clean 2-0 slate.
Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Eugenio Lacson Jr., a solid supporter of football in the province, said that Isulat and Panares' inclusion in the national team is a manifestation of the sustainable football program of San Carlos City.
"And the city will continue to enhance the skills of its players - having international competition in mind," said the former San Carlos mayor.