CERES-Negros FC defender Joshua Jake Grommen was recently called up by the Philippine Football Federation to be part of the U22 squad seeing action in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Championship 2018 Qualifiers on July 19 to 23 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Philippine side is in Group J alongside powerhouse teams from Japan and China PR as well as host-Cambodia.
The national team underwent rigid training at the Rizal Memorial Stadium before flying to Japan for a training camp where they had some friendly matches.
This AFC tournament will also serve as the country’s preparation for the upcoming 29th Southeast Asian Games next month in Malaysia.
Completing the Philippine U22 squad under coach Marlon Maro are Davao Aguilas’ Jaime Vicenzo Cheng, Dylan Alain Lucienne de Bruycker, Van Rey Diaz, Jordan Blair Jarvis, Richard Talaroc Jr., Rey Franco Miguel De La Torre, and Junell Mark Bautista University of the Philippines’ Jeremiah Borlongan, Julian Mariano Clarino, and Christian Lapas; Michael Asong and Nimrod Balabat of San Beda College; Reymart Cubon and Ray Joseph of Far Eastern University;
Javier Augustine Gayoso and Jeremiah Raphael Rocha of Ateneo de Manila University; Arellano University’s Roberto Corsame, Jr.; Patrick Valenzuela of National University; Yoshiharu Koizumi of De La Salle University; FC Meralco Manila’s Daniel Bernan Gadia, and Nathanael Ace Villanueva; and Dimitri Lionel Limbo of Kaya FC Makati-B.
The Philippines is facing Japan, China, and Cambodia until Sunday. (HGD)