PH Ice hockey team. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but the Philippines’ bets for this year’s Southeast Asian Games ice hockey event, are far from fazed.
“In 2017 we were kind of the underdogs. We were new,” Steven Füglister, captain of the defending champions Eagles, told the Inquirer on Saturday.
“Now, teams know what we are capable of,” he added.
Füglister was referring to their gilded sweep of the inaugural edition of the contest in 2017 which plucked them out of obscurity.
But the Filipino-Swiss skipper said they have become an even better team, and that should put the pressure on opposing teams.
“Our role has really changed, especially after our achievements in the past years,” Füglister.
The Eagles will be tested starting Sunday, 7 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena’s skating rink in Pasay, when the Philippines play Malaysia, a team it narrowly beat in the 2017’s edition of the games, for its first match.
“We had much better support [system] this time around,” said Füglister “And people are now more aware of us, unlike in 2017 where we were preparing in the shadows.”
“I think that’s the biggest difference now,” he said.
The Eagles, along with four other competing nations, will plunge into a single round-robin action for the group stage. The top four teams with the best record advance to the phase, which follows a knockout format.
“Malaysia is like every other team—they want to win the gold. And in order to do that, you have to beat everybody,” said Fuglister.
“We know we have a big target on our backs. But we’re not bothered,” he added.