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| The Filipina 5 are now set for the AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup. Ivan Saldajeno |
PASIG—Three familiar faces in the Philippine futsal scene return to the national women's team as they were called up for the AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup from May 6-17 in Hohhot, China.
Isabella Bandoja, Hazel Lustan, and Lanie Ortillo, who last played for the old Pinay5 in the ASEAN Women's Futsal Championship at the nearby PhilSports Arena last November, are back with the Nationals, who will now be known as the Filipina 5 moving forward.
On the other hand, the Rafa Merino-coached squad kept the core of the team that played in the AFC WFAC qualifying phase in Uzbekistan.
Staying on are Sam Hughes, Vrendelle Nuera, Cathrine Graversen, Kayla Santiago, Dionesa Tolentin, Alisha Del Campo, Judy Connolly, Bella Flanigan, Regine Rebosura, and Rocelle Mendano.
Current Stallion Laguna player Charisa Lemoran completes the cast as she made the cut following a series of tryouts.
Lemoran, who previously starred in the national 11-a-side team during the last 2010s, makes her national team return, this time in the five-a-side circuit.
During the sendoff event for the Filipina 5 at Studio 300 here, Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez bared that Katrina Guillou, who was stellar in the qualifiers, begged off in the main AFC tournament due to her club commitments.
However, Gutierrez assured that Guillou remains committed to both the Filipina5 and the Filipinas ahead of the AFF Women's Championship and the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup later this year.
The Filipina 5 are grouped with defending champion Iran, Vietnam, and Hong Kong in Group B of the AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup.
The top two teams per group plus the two best third-placers will qualify for the knockout stages.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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