More than a week removed from its most significant achievement yet, members of the national squad shift their focus on their respective clubs as the Philippines Football League resumes on Wednesday in Laguna and Bacolod City.
Defending champion Ceres-Negros opens its title defense against Kaya Iloilo at 7 p.m. at Panaad Stadium, while Stallion Laguna and Global Cebu seek breakthrough victories when they clash at Biñan Football Stadium.
The Busmen are boosted by the return of brothers Mike and Manny Ott, Kevin Ingreso and Patrick Reichelt, defenders Carlie De Murga, Jeffrey Christiaens, Sean Kane and Junior Muñoz, who all played key roles in the Azkals’ recent successful qualification bid to the Asian Cup. All eight players were part of the squad that beat Tajikistan, 2-1, with Ingreso scoring the first goal. —CEDELF P. TUPAS